RELEASE THE PONTVILLE CHILDREN IMMEDIATELY

The Tasmanian Greens today demanded the Federal Government immediately release all children detained at Pontville into the community.

Greens Children’s spokesperson Paul O’Halloran MP said he was horrified at reports of self harm and attempted suicide at the centre.

“Can we all just stop and think about this for a moment,” Mr O’Halloran said.

“The Federal Government is locking up traumatised children in Tasmanian detention centres for an indefinite period, and the children are harming themselves and attempting suicide.”

“It is unacceptable, it is our responsibility, and these children need to be released into safe and supportive homes in the community right now.”

“These are children who are already traumatised, and whose human rights have already been trodden on, so we should be providing them with compassion not incarceration.”

“It is impossible to imagine the psychological damage that this would inflict on an adult, let alone a child.”

Mr O’Halloran, who is also Parliamentary Secretary for Education, said Education Minister Nick McKim had led the way with a successful program to educate hundreds of detainees in the government school system.

“The children have been in our schools for a number of weeks now, which shows that they are ready and willing to be a part of our community,” Mr O’Halloran said.

“I also know that the Minister for Community Development Cassy O’Connor has written to both Tony Burke and Michelle O’Byrne as Minister for Children about formalising the way to release these children into the community.”
Paul O’Halloran MP Greens Children’s Spokesperson Tuesday, 16 July 2013