The Wire

The debate about asylum-seeking children has often revolved around the Bakhtiari family, who came to Australia on a boat to seek asylum from Afghanistan. They have been split up for months, with the five children living in a house in Adelaide where they are attending school, their father detained at Baxter and their Mother Roqia under guard at a motel with her small baby, born in Australia. The family has been at the centre of many court controversies, including the family court decision ordering all childen released from detention, which the government successfully appealed. Most recently, the family’s lawyers said they will take their case all the way to London. In a limited change in policy, the Immigration Department last week allowed Roqia to join her other children at their house. The Catholic Welfare Agency Centacare has been responsible for the family’s welfare during their eight months of separation in Adelaide. Jay Lamey spoke to Centacare’s Chief Dale West about the family’s life now that they have been united, partly at least.