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The peak professional body for doctors in Australia has called for the release of the Tamil asylum seeker family held on Christmas Island as they prepare to spend their third holiday period in detention.
It comes after around 700 paediatricians and healthcare workers signed an open letter expressing grave concerns about the harm prolonged detention is having on the development of children Kopika, five, and Tharunicaa, three.
The Australian-born sisters and their parents, Nades and Priya, are the only family group detained on Christmas Island, located about 150 kilometres off the Indonesian coast.
“The Australian Medical Association shares the concerns of these eminent paediatricians and other healthcare workers about the harms being caused to these two young children by being in detention for so long and at such a crucial time in their development,” AMA President Omar Khorshid said on Tuesday.
Australia s top medical body calls for the release of the Tamil Biloela family from detention sbs.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sbs.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Grandmothers march in time for refugees
Human rights: Grandmothers out in force in Mornington on Human Rights Day included Thalia Collard, Ann Renkin and, front, Viv Daniels, Denise Hassett, Marilyn Hobbs, Georgie Stubbs, Marg Darcy, Pat Sullivan, Carolyn Ketels. Picture: Supplied
GRANDMOTHERS were out in force in Mornington on Human Rights Day to bring attention to the plight of refugees being held in detention by the federal government.
Grandmothers for Refugees and Friends of Grandmothers walked along Main Street on Wednesday 9 December in support of the Time for a Home Campaign aimed at freeing refugees held in Australia and overseas.
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In the pre-Christmas reshuffle, announced on Friday, Simon Birmingham has lost the trade portfolio just two days after formally complaining about China to the World Trade Organisation.
The big winners in the reshuffle
ALEX HAWKE: Moves from International Development and the Pacific to Immigration
DAN TEHAN: Promoted to Trade from Education and Youth
GREG HUNT: Adds Aged Care to his Health responsibilities
ALAN TUDGE: Climbs to Education and Youth from Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population
ANDREW HASTIE: Joins the ministry as Assistant Defence Minister
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Senator Birmingham, the leading Liberal moderate from South Australia, took on the senior Finance portfolio at the end of October, following Mathias Cormann s departure from Parliament.