There is talk that Australia's (still) new Labour government will bring an end to the policy of mandatory detention of refugees. I found the following article:

Govt to ease immigrant detention policy
July 28, 2008 - sydney morning herald

The Rudd government will reportedly step back from the hardline immigration policy of mandatory detention for asylum seekers. The ABC on Monday night reported Immigration Minister Chris Evans is to announce sweeping changes to the policy in a speech in Canberra on Tuesday.

Senator Evans will announce a shift toward detaining only people who pose a risk to the community, the report said. The government will also stop detaining asylum seekers for long periods and will offer legal assistance to those denied a visa...


This will conclude a dark and dangerous period for Australia, a period which has seen legal rights for all Australians diminished. This new government keeps proving that it cares about human rights, and after many difficult years working with refugees I'm extremely pleased.

freda