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Asylum seeker children moved off Manus Island Asylum seeker children moved off Manus Island
(3 months later)
All remaining asylum seeking family members and children have been transferred from offshore processing facilities at Manus Island, the Department of Immigration has confirmed.All remaining asylum seeking family members and children have been transferred from offshore processing facilities at Manus Island, the Department of Immigration has confirmed.
The 12 remaining children on Manus were flown in a group of 42 people – including some single adult males – from the Papua New Guinean island to Christmas Island. The transfer occurred on Thursday and follows a transfer of about 40 family members, including children, from Manus two weeks ago.The 12 remaining children on Manus were flown in a group of 42 people – including some single adult males – from the Papua New Guinean island to Christmas Island. The transfer occurred on Thursday and follows a transfer of about 40 family members, including children, from Manus two weeks ago.
The Department of Immigration confirmed to Guardian Australia that whilst this means there are currently no children or families detained on Manus Island, there is no policy preventing future transfer to the island of family groups, as all new asylum seeker arrivals by boat remain subject to the government's "no advantage" scheme. But the ABC is reporting that this signals an end to family transfers to offshore processing facilities.The Department of Immigration confirmed to Guardian Australia that whilst this means there are currently no children or families detained on Manus Island, there is no policy preventing future transfer to the island of family groups, as all new asylum seeker arrivals by boat remain subject to the government's "no advantage" scheme. But the ABC is reporting that this signals an end to family transfers to offshore processing facilities.
In a statement to the press, Save the Children's director of programs and humanitarian response, Scott Gilbert, welcomed the news, but said children and families should never have been detained on the island in the first place.In a statement to the press, Save the Children's director of programs and humanitarian response, Scott Gilbert, welcomed the news, but said children and families should never have been detained on the island in the first place.
"We have been very clear with the Australian government, right from the very start, that children should not be held at the regional processing centre on Manus Island," he said."We have been very clear with the Australian government, right from the very start, that children should not be held at the regional processing centre on Manus Island," he said.
"We are pleased that the Australian government has responded to our concerns by removing all of the children and families from Manus Island. However, it is important that all of the children and families who have been housed on Manus Island are accommodated in the Australian community and not in … detention facilities.""We are pleased that the Australian government has responded to our concerns by removing all of the children and families from Manus Island. However, it is important that all of the children and families who have been housed on Manus Island are accommodated in the Australian community and not in … detention facilities."
It is understood that the new immigration minister, Tony Burke, agreed the transfer upon taking up the role earlier in the week.It is understood that the new immigration minister, Tony Burke, agreed the transfer upon taking up the role earlier in the week.
The detention facilities at Manus Island have been heavily criticised for their lack of provision for children.The detention facilities at Manus Island have been heavily criticised for their lack of provision for children.
In April, ABC's Four Corners spoke to Dr John Vallentine, a doctor who had worked on the island's detention facilities last year. He told the program that the facility was "too remote" to adequately cater to the needs of child patients and had "very little in the way of paediatric equipment".In April, ABC's Four Corners spoke to Dr John Vallentine, a doctor who had worked on the island's detention facilities last year. He told the program that the facility was "too remote" to adequately cater to the needs of child patients and had "very little in the way of paediatric equipment".
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