501s: locked up and left to rot

The vast majority of people held in this country’s detention centres have lived nearly all their lives in Australia, made homes, held down jobs and had families. Many of these people have been locked up for years under sections 501 or 116 of the Migration Act and have no foreseeable prospect of release or even deportation. This episode looks at the enormous power that the Immigration Minister holds over people’s lives. We talk to Joey Tangaloa Taualii and "John", who are 501 detainees in the MITA detention centre in Melbourne, and to Ian Rintoul, a member of the Refugee Action Coalition in Sydney and of Solidarity. This episode includes mention of suicide. If you need support, the number for Lifeline is 13 11 14.