HREOC report into children in detention
Letter to the Editor - Courier Mail
15 June 2004
Dear Sir/Madam
Dr Sev Ozdowski should know better than to claim the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs has "not taken issue" with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission report into children in detention (Pleas to release children ignored, 10/6/04).
As the report's author, he would know the Department had over 300 pages worth of issues which it put to HREOC in response to the report's first draft.
He would also know the Department's detailed response to each of the findings was printed in the report at Appendix 3.
That response makes clear the many areas where the Department "takes issue" with the report, including in particular the manner in which the inquiry dealt with evidence.
The Department takes very seriously its obligations towards children in detention. The Department's response to the inquiry sets out in some detail the action the Department has taken to ensure children in immigration detention continue to be well cared for.
Stewart Foster
Director
Public Affairs
DIMIA