Under the Howard Government, asylum seekers were routinely locked up in remote and isolated detention centres. Thousands of the inmates were women and children and as early as the year 2000, psychiatrists and medical experts were sounding warning bells about the psychological harm being done, especially to children.
Those experts now accuse the government of consistently ignoring the reports, a charge they say, that borders on state sponsored child abuse.
Sunday catches up with several children who were once behind bars and severely affected by their detention. Arif was just 12 when he tried to commit suicide. Mortaza stitched his lips and went on hunger strikes. These former detainees are now young adults and bravely talk about their experiences.
Naomi is just 6, but she spent the first half of her life in detention and the legacy is apparent. She is developmentally delayed and has problems with memory and language.
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