Senate debates

Wednesday, 13 September 2006

MS Cornelia Rau

3:58 pm

Photo of Kerry NettleKerry Nettle (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—
(a)
notes that:
(i)
it has been 19 months since Ms Cornelia Rau was found imprisoned unlawfully in the Baxter detention centre,
(ii)
Ms Rau has still not received compensation for her wrongful imprisonment or the effects of her treatment in detention,
(iii)
the Government appears to be effectively forcing Ms Rau to sue it in court, rather than negotiating an agreement or agreeing to an arbitrated settlement, and
(iv)
this same issue was raised in the Senate more than 6 months ago; and
(b)
calls on the Government to:
(i)
negotiate a generous compensation agreement with Ms Rau for the ordeal it inflicted upon her,
(ii)
ensure that this compensation agreement is completed within 3 months, and
(iii)
avoid a situation where Ms Rau is forced to take legal action and endure years in the courts.

Question put.