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August 18, 2016

Australia to Close Manus Offshore Detention Facility for Asylum Seekers
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The Australian government says it will close the Manus Island
immigration detention center after reports of harsh conditions and
rampant abuse there, including for child detainees. Manus is one of the
two offshore detention facilities Australia uses for asylum-seeking
migrants. Many of those at the Manus Island facility have spent years in
detention and suffer from mental health issues. The Australian
government has so far said none of the those detained at Manus would be
resettled in Australia, but Colin Barnett, the premier of Western
Australia, said he would welcome their resettlement.

Colin Barnett: "Particularly for families, as long as they don't present
a security or safety risk, I do welcome them being in Australia. And the
one thing I find unacceptable is children in detention."

Topics:Australia Immigrant Rights Immigration

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