Editorial: Futile or fruitful, this trip matters

Labour MP Kelvin Davis

It will be interesting to see how Labour MP Kelvin Davis' bid to gain access to an Australian detention centre will play out.

Mr Davis arrived on Christmas Island on Saturday and delivered a request to visit someone being held at the centre, where about 40 Kiwis are waiting to be sent back to New Zealand. He concedes that the chances of his getting into the centre are slim and believes Australian authorities will thwart his efforts.

His trip has been prompted by growing concerns about Australia's immigration policy, which came into effect in December, under which anyone who isn't an Australian citizen and who has served a prison sentence of 12 months or more can be deported, potentially affecting about 1000 Kiwis.

One criticism of the policy is that it will apply to people who have committed relatively minor offences and who have lived in Australia for the majority of their lives and regard themselves as Australian.

Mr Davis says he has been in touch with detainees and has heard of worrying conditions at the camp, including reports of detainees self-harming and committing suicide.

These concerns follow on from the death of 23-year-old Junior Togatuki, which highlighted issues about their treatment and the policy itself.

Togatuki took his own life in Goulburn's Supermax prison. Earlier, he had begged Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to be allowed to remain in Australia.

His death raised further questions over aspects of these centres, most notably access to medical care and lawyers. He suffered from schizophrenia and anxiety, conditions that must have been known to the authorities.

There is a view that "if you can't do the time, then don't do the crime". That's fair. Kiwis who relocate to Australia need to abide by the laws of that country and should accept the consequences of their actions.

However, the act of placing Kiwis in detention camps has placed a serious strain on the special relationship between our countries.

Mr Davis' venture might be doomed to fail but his quest to gather more information is appropriate.