The NSW Teachers Federation congratulates the Federal Labor government on its announcement today of changes to mandatory detention policy in Australia. These changes are vital, not only to those detainees who are predominantly asylum seekers or those who have over stayed their visas, but also to Australia’s international reputation on human rights.

The NSW Teachers Federation congratulates the Federal Labor government on its announcement today of changes to mandatory detention policy in Australia.

These changes are vital, not only to those detainees who are predominantly asylum seekers or those who have over stayed their visas, but also to Australia’s international reputation on human rights.

In particular, the onus on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to prove someone must be detained and poses danger to the community is most welcome.

Public education teachers look forward to welcoming these students and their families to Australia and our schools and colleges.

Hopefully, this dark chapter of Australia’s history is beginning to close and we will never again see children locked up in detention or dragged out of their classrooms by immigration officers.