Ruddock adviser quits in disgust

Sydney Morning Herald

By Julie-Anne Davies, Andrew Clennell and Juan-Carlo Tomas

One of the Howard Government's most senior advisers on immigration resigned in disgust yesterday at the Government's treatment of asylum seekers.

Neville Roach, appointed by the Immigration Minister, Philip Ruddock, to chair the Council for Multicultural Australia, said "compassion seem[ed] to have been thrown out the door".

He said he found it "impossible" to continue to support the Government because of its policy, which was tearing at Australia's multicultural fabric.

Mr Roach said the Government had given "comfort to the prejudiced side of human nature".

His resignation was acknowledged only by a statement from Mr Ruddock recognising his contribution to the Government over six years.

Mr Roach, AO, who is also chairman of the Government's Business Advisory Council on migration, said the Government's tactics on boat people had affected all Middle Eastern people in Australia.

"The greater tragedy is that the vilification, abuse and even violence that has resulted has not been directed exclusively towards asylum seekers, but to the wider Islamic community and others of Middle-Eastern appearance."

Mr Roach said Australia's entire migration program was being given an "unwelcome and negative image", and that Mr Ruddock should hand over responsibility for asylum seekers to another minister.

"Every time a humanitarian issue is raised in relation to the asylum seekers, their [asylum seekers'] deviousness and even criminal intent is proclaimed...

"I think the way in which the Government has handled these issues - beginning I think with the Tampa - has tended to give comfort to the prejudiced side of human nature."

As the the hunger strike and lip-sewing by protesting Afghans at the Woomera Detention Centre entered its seventh day yesterday:

The Herald learnt that two psychologists experienced in dealing with hunger strikes were let go from Woomera last month and that another psychologist and nurse would leave next week.

The Human Rights Commissioner, Sev Ozdowski, said events at Woomera meant Australia appeared to be in breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Mr Ruddock said Mr Ozdowski's comments were disappointing: "You don't make conclusions by hearing some news reports."

Eighteen out of 202 hunger strikers at Woomera were treated after collapsing with deyhdration. Three people, including a 13-year-old boy whose lips were stitched, were in Woomera Hospital.

One Afghan hunger striker was among 17 refugees released from Woomera on temporary protection visas, but the Government said this followed a refugee review tribunal decision.

Sources have told the Herald that the two psychologists - the only long-term psychologists of three employed at the centre - did not have their contracts renewed late last month.

The Immigration Department said it "does not acknowledge that this has an effect on the current situation".

But one source said: "[The psychologists normally] talk a lot of them out of it [hunger striking and lip sewing]. Their object is to defuse it before it gets worse."

The Government said 36 minors were still involved in the hunger strike, including 12 unaccompanied minors; 64 had sewn lips, including one minor.

Five delegates from the Government's detention advisory group spoke to the detainees yesterday without success.