Prolonged immigration detention should be last resort

AMA says the government has made the right decision to allow the Murugappan family to return to their home in Queensland.

The AMA welcomes the decision of the government to grant the Murugappan family bridging visas, allowing them to return to their home community of Biloela while they await a permanent settlement outcome.

The AMA maintains that indefinite prolonged immigration detention has adverse impacts on physical and mental health and wellbeing and should only be used as a last resort.

The Murugappan children have lost four years of their childhood being caught up in the Australian immigration detention network, and the time has come for them to return to a normal life – going to school, seeing friends, and re-joining their community.

The AMA Secretariat is currently updating the 2015 position statement on Asylum Seeker and Refugee Health, due for publication by the end of 2022.