April 08, 2016
Government inaction leaving detainees vulnerable
Labour’s correction spokesperson is accusing the Government of abandoning New Zealanders who find themselves in Australia’s detention centres.
He’s trying to get answers about the death of 42-year-old Rob Peihopa in Sydney’s Villawood Detention Centre this week.
Australian immigration officials claimed he died of a heart attack, but fellow detainees says his body showed signs he had been assaulted.
Mr Davis says it’s not the first death of a New Zealander awaiting deportation and the way things are going it’s not likely to be the last if the Government here refuses to challenge the Australians.
"Well this is why I said to John Key, he's being gutless last year because he has been gutless. He's too scared to actually rock the boat with Australia, to rock the boat with Malcolm Turnbull and he's allowing New Zealander's to be thrown in an effect what is another prison, getting punished twice for one crime. It's just unacceptable that they can ignore the needs of so many New Zealand citizens", says Mr Davis.
Kelvin Davis says he’s asked if Foreign Affairs officials have visited any detainees, and the minister hasn’t bothered to answer.
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