Get teenagers out of Pontville and into Hobart homes

The Pontville child detainees could easily be living in healthier and happier conditions in host homes throughout Hobart, according to the Greens Candidate for Denison.

Anna Reynolds said many local residents had registered their interest in hosting refugees with the Community Placement Network Program.

“The program, launched in 2012, invited people to register their interest in opening their homes to refugees and provide a welcoming atmosphere for some of the world’s most vulnerable people,” Ms Reynolds said.

“But most of those registered for the program have not been contacted, and it has now been placed on hold.”

Ms Reynolds said home-hosting of refugees should be used to help ease tensions in Pontville and reduce the record numbers of kids in detention.

“Almost 2000 children are being held in detention centres around the country, and we’ve seen just how unhealthy this is with the escalating tensions and physical violence at Pontville over the weekend,” she said.

“Australia now has more children in detention that at any time in its history.”

“Tasmanians are clearly ready to do the right thing by these children. We all know they should not be held in detention centres. It’s time for the government to catch up with the people’s will on this issue.”

The Community Placement Network is an initiative of the Australian Homestay Network (AHN) to offer short-term homestay accommodation to eligible asylum seekers leaving immigration detention on a bridging visa. http://www.homestaynetwork.org/cpn

It received a surge of interest from members of the Hobart community when it was launched in 2012, but the program never been put into action.
Greens candidate for Denison, Anna Reynolds