Virginia and Naomi Leong
Encyclopedia
Virginia and Naomi Leong are a mother and daughter who were held within the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre
, Australia
, from 2001 until 2005. After escalating media attention on the declining mental health
of Naomi Leong, both Virginia and Naomi were released on a bridging visa late in the evening of Monday 23 May 2005.
Virginia Leong, a Malaysian citizen, was two months pregnant when she was arrested and placed under mandatory detention
in 2001 for attempting to leave Australia without correct papers. Her daughter, born within the detention centre, was not automatically granted Australian citizenship and at the time of her release, remains stateless.
At the time of her release, Naomi Leong was three years old and had lived her entire life within the detention system
. Over this period she allegedly became mentally disturbed, exhibiting various signs including bruises from banging her head against walls. She was also purported to suffer from severe separation anxiety
.
From March till May 2005, psychiatrist Dr. Michael Dudley orchestrated a campaign to allow Naomi to visit a local playgroup for three hours a week, for the sake of her mental health. Dr. Dudley argued "She's been brought up in prison, in a highly abnormal environment with highly distressed people. It's not an environment conducive to child development."
The Immigration Department granted this request, allowing Naomi Leong three hours of association with others her own age once a week.
Dr Dudley's report was also used as part of a growing media campaign to highlight problems that a number of groups saw with Australia's hard-line detention policy. Just prior to the release of the pair, the Malaysian media also began to report the story locally. According to former opposition leader Kim Beazley
, this embarrassed the Howard government into acting.
Shortly after her release, Virginia Leong was provided access to Australia's Medicare
scheme, and the right to work (Class A visa). Naomi Leong was not granted access to Medicare and remained on a Class E visa.
In addition, Virginia Leong is now required to pay approximately A$500,000 to the Australian government as repayment of the costs incurred by the government to hold her in detention.
Villawood Immigration Detention Centre
Villawood Immigration Detention Centre is an Australian immigration detention facility located in the suburb of Villawood in Sydney, Australia...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, from 2001 until 2005. After escalating media attention on the declining mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
of Naomi Leong, both Virginia and Naomi were released on a bridging visa late in the evening of Monday 23 May 2005.
Virginia Leong, a Malaysian citizen, was two months pregnant when she was arrested and placed under mandatory detention
Mandatory detention in Australia
Mandatory detention in Australia concerns the Australian federal government's policy and system of mandatory immigration detention active from 1992 to date, pursuant to which all persons entering the country without a valid visa are compulsorily detained and sometimes subject to deportation.In the...
in 2001 for attempting to leave Australia without correct papers. Her daughter, born within the detention centre, was not automatically granted Australian citizenship and at the time of her release, remains stateless.
At the time of her release, Naomi Leong was three years old and had lived her entire life within the detention system
Australian immigration detention facilities
Australian immigration detention facilities comprise a number of different facilities throughout Australia and one on the Australian territory of Christmas Island. They are used to house people who are detained under Australia’s policy of mandatory detention and previously under the now defunct...
. Over this period she allegedly became mentally disturbed, exhibiting various signs including bruises from banging her head against walls. She was also purported to suffer from severe separation anxiety
Separation anxiety
Separation anxiety may refer to:*Separation anxiety disorder or Separation anxiety test*Spider-Man & Venom: Separation Anxiety, a 1995 SNES video game*Separation Anxieties, a 2000 album by 12 Rods...
.
From March till May 2005, psychiatrist Dr. Michael Dudley orchestrated a campaign to allow Naomi to visit a local playgroup for three hours a week, for the sake of her mental health. Dr. Dudley argued "She's been brought up in prison, in a highly abnormal environment with highly distressed people. It's not an environment conducive to child development."
The Immigration Department granted this request, allowing Naomi Leong three hours of association with others her own age once a week.
Dr Dudley's report was also used as part of a growing media campaign to highlight problems that a number of groups saw with Australia's hard-line detention policy. Just prior to the release of the pair, the Malaysian media also began to report the story locally. According to former opposition leader Kim Beazley
Kim Beazley
In the October 1998 election, Labor polled a majority of the two-party vote and received the largest swing to a first-term opposition since 1934. However, due to the uneven nature of the swing, Labor came up eight seats short of making Beazley Prime Minister....
, this embarrassed the Howard government into acting.
Shortly after her release, Virginia Leong was provided access to Australia's Medicare
Medicare (Australia)
Medicare is Australia's publicly funded universal health care system, operated by the government authority Medicare Australia. Medicare is intended to provide affordable treatment by doctors and in public hospitals for all resident citizens and permanent residents except for those on Norfolk Island...
scheme, and the right to work (Class A visa). Naomi Leong was not granted access to Medicare and remained on a Class E visa.
In addition, Virginia Leong is now required to pay approximately A$500,000 to the Australian government as repayment of the costs incurred by the government to hold her in detention.