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"On a recent visit to Maribyrnong Detention Centre, I met an Albanian detainee who had arrived in Australia with two of his children, the result of a devastating choice he and his wife made about the future of their family. He spoke no English, and I acknowledge was here on false papers. But I have never in my life witnessed from a grown man such distress, such desperation and complete isolation. Knowing that his young children were 20-fold more isolated and more devastated by the experience, and were in a detention centre in this country, bothers me enormously." From a speech in Parliament on 19 Sept 2001 by Marise Payne, Liberal senator for NSW. Quoted in The Age 21 September. |