For the past few years, Australia has had a policy of deporting as many kiwis as it can, and detaining them indefinitely if they try and appeal against deportation. Its a disgusting policy, but its gets worse: because now they're imprisoning kiwi children as well:
Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters has challenged the Australian Government to meet the obligations of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child over the detention of a 17-year-old New Zealander under its deportation policy.
The 17-year-old has been held in a Melbourne immigration detention centre for the past three months and is the first youth detained under hardline migration rules.
A decision on his visa status is expected soon.
UNCROC forbids separating children from their parents (unless it is in the best interests of the child), and imprisoning them with adults. Australia's actions are clearly in breach. Unfortunately, as Australia is not a party to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure, all we can do is publicly shame them over their non-compliance. And while we're at it, we should point out that their actions in imprisoning childen on Nauru and Manus Island are in breach of the convention as well.
Meanwhile, in case you needed a reminder: don't buy Australian.
