Challenging The Border Force Act
MEDIA RELEASE: Government Backs Down in the face of Doctors’ Challenge
October 22, 2016
Doctors have forced the federal government to back down on controversial laws banning health practitioners from publicly revealing abuse and medical negligence in Australia’s offshore detention centres.
Doctors for Refugees President Dr Barri Phatarfod said the decision was a “huge win for doctors and recognition that our code of ethics is paramount”.
Australia’s health groups call for Australia's Border Force Act to be amended
October 10, 2016
Australia’s peak health professional bodies are voicing collective concern about the appalling secrecy provisions in the Australian Border Force Act 2015 which threaten jail for up to two years for health and medical professional who disclose information about the conditions in immigration Detention Centres.
Meeting with the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders
October 08, 2016
Doctors for Refugees was among those who met with the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Sydney, hosted by the Australian Human Rights Commission, and our solicitor for the Border Force Act Challenge Megan Fitzgerald came up to discuss the legal aspects of this. The Border Force Act is one of the pivotal legislated areas that Human Rights Defenders are targeted, in this instance with criminal charges.
Media Coverage of The Challenge to The Border Force Act
September 04, 2016
There has been an extensive amount of media attention in relation to Doctors For Refugees challenge to the Border Force Act. Including an excellent article in the Huffington Post, which mentioned the story of a young boy we are asking to be immediately bought to Australia.
The Moss Report- A review of Conditions and Circumstances in Nauru
September 03, 2016
On the 3 October 2014 the then Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the Hon Scott Morrison MP announced a review into allegations relating to conditions and circumstances at Nauru.
This review looks into two main aspects:
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Claims of sexual and other physical assault of transferees; and
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Conduct and behaviour of staff members employed by contract service providers.
Working with asylum seekers in immigration detention: clinical and medical ethics update
August 29, 2016
A review of the adverse psychological and physical health effects of mandatory detention that have been observed by Doctors. The piece was published on crikey and written by Dr Peter Young, Dr Ai-Lene Chan and Professor David Isaacs.
