Fed: Full inquiry needed: Beazley

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2001
Fed: Full inquiry needed: Beazley

The federal opposition has renewed calls for a full judicial inquiry into immigration
detention centres.

At the same time Labor has signalled it may support proposed laws allowing strip-searches
of inmates, including children.

Federal Opposition leader KIM BEAZLEY says the opposition will look at the legislation
tabled in parliament yesterday which would hand guards new strip search powers.

The legislation was tabled a day after rioters torched buildings at the Curtin facility
in Western Australia.

Mr BEAZLEY says the opposition will support decent measures to ensure that people can
not act in a way that jeopardises the safety of guards or inmates of detention centres.

He would not be drawn on whether strip-searches of children were decent measures.

Labor's concerns, however, are broader than just the possibility of concealed weapons.

Mr BEAZLEY says Labor has major questions about the administration of detention camps.

He says there have been repeated reports of abuse of inmates and these should be investigated
by a judicial inquiry.

AAP RTV kjp/daw/mjm/wz

KEYWORD: RIOT BEAZLEY (CANBERRA)

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