Fed: Howard says Curtin detainees treated humanely
MELBOURNE, April 23 AAP - Detainees at the Curtin Detention Centre in Western Australiawere being treated humanely, Prime Minister John Howard said today.
Mr Howard said he had seen video footage aired last night on the ABC depicting allegedmistreatment of asylum seekers.
He said he had sought advice on allegations there was an unwillingness to provide medicalattention, but advice from the Immigration Minister's office said this was not true.
He said the staff at the centre in the state's north were in fact prevented from administeringmedical attention because of the conduct of the detainees.
"I strongly support our policy of mandatory detention and I'm not going to criticisewhat occurred there," he told reporters in Melbourne.
"Nobody likes keeping people in detention, they're not pleasant scenes.
"No riot inside a detention centre would be pleasant. No behaviour by people protestingtheir detention would be pleasant.
"But I support what is occurring, as does the minister."
Asked if he was satisfied the detainees were receiving humane treatment, he said: "I am".
"They are being provided with very good and regular medical attention. They're beingprovided with very good food.
"I know they don't like being in detention, but without sounding in any way insensitiveI hope, if people did not seek to come to Australia illegally, they would not be in detention."
AAP ce/clr/ldj/de
KEYWORD: CURTIN HOWARD
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