Palm Sunday March 2003 The Palm Sunday Committee
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IEU - End Mandatory Detention: Executive Summary

This report considers the following possible alternatives (amongst others) to the current policy regarding refugees and asylum seekers:


  1. End the Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) system. Give all refugees immediate access to a permanent Protection Visa (PV).

  2. Introduce compulsory processing to replace mandatory detention. All asylum seekers to be released after initial processing of health and security checks unless a court order is obtained for their detention. Priority to be given to children and families. Asylum seekers to be housed in the community whilst their claims for asylum are being processed.

  3. End the system of tendering for the management of detention facilities returning these facilities to direct government control.

  4. Initial screening of all asylum seekers to identify torture and trauma victims in accordance with UNHCR guidelines.

  5. Repeal legislation excising parts of Australia from Australia's migration zone.

  6. Establishing a fast-track processing facility on Christmas Island, using resources currently directed towards the 'Pacific Solution' and detention.

  7. Reevaluate the powers of the Minister and the right of appeal in order to ensure due process and the maintenance of the doctrine of the separation of powers.

  8. End the 'Pacific Solution' and enter multilateral negotiations with Indonesia and source countries to develop a more workable offshore program.

  9. De-couple the onshore and offshore programs.

  10. Reevaluate the special humanitarian program in conjunction with the family reunion program to ensure all places go to those most in need and all refugees currently resident in Australia have access to family reunion rights.

  11. Reevaluate the total number of refugee places including consideration of a flexible quota to take account of overseas crises.

  12. Implement all outstanding recommendations from the referenced reports, referred to in the Other Alternatives to be Considered section.



| Index | Preamble | Executive Summary | Overview | Critique | Visa System | Detention | Processing | Pacific Solution | Humanitarian Program |
| Population & Migration | Referecnes |

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