Did I just hear right? The government have committed $70 million dollars compensation to refugees in Manus Island? Yes Confirmation from ABC NEWS
Commonwealth agrees to pay Manus Island detainees $70m in class action settlement
Updated
Asylum seekers who alleged they endured physical and psychological harm on Manus Island between 2012 and 2016 say they “are finally being heard” after the Federal Government agreed to pay $70 million in compensation.
The group alleged the Commonwealth breached its duty of care by holding them in conditions that did not meet Australian standards. During the period of their incarceration there was also a riot that resulted in the death of an asylum seeker and serious injuries to other detainees. They also claimed they were falsely imprisoned after Papua New Guinea’s Supreme Court ruled their detention was illegal.
A Victorian Supreme Court trial against the Commonwealth and security companies Transfield and G4S, which had been delayed for several months, was due to start today and had been expected to run for six months.
Law firm Slater and Gordon, which ran the class action, believed it to have been the largest immigration detention trial ever in Australia. When it began, legal representatives for the plaintiff told the court it had reached an agreement to settle the case.
The in-principle agreement, subject to court approval, will include payment of plaintiffs’ legal costs, which to date are more than $20 million. Sudanese refugee Abdul Aziz Muhammad, who was part of the action, and now lives on Manus Island, said he was “really, really happy” with the outcome. “I’m so excited, I haven’t been so excited like this since I came to Manus Island,” he said. “One thing today I found is there are some people down there in Australia who care about us.” read more..
I find this totally insane, they came by boat, not invitation!! As you see above the Lawyers apparently will receive approx $20m and the balance dispersed. What will they do with the money? Return to the land they wanted to get away from? Average $39,000 per person. Don’t we have pensioners and/or homeless persons in Australia who could benefit from this kind of money?
IN MY OPINION AS AN AUSTRALIA, ONE OF THE MANY OF US PAYING THEM COMPENSATION BECAUSE THEY TRIED TO COME ILLEGALLY INTO AUSTRALIA, WHO WERE THEN HOUSED AND CARED FOR ON SAFE LAND…. WE SHOULD REVOLT. SPEND THE MONEY ON AUSTRALIAN CITIZENS.
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