Govt defends decision to detain Korean woman?

The Immigration Department says there was no unlawful detention in the case of a Korean woman recently held at South Australia's Baxter detention centre?

The Australian Greens say the woman had a holiday visa and was wrongly detained after visiting her boyfriend, who was working at a Victorian fruit farm.

The Greens have called for an inquiry into the case, saying it follows the wrongful detention of mentally ill Australian woman Cornelia Rau.

But the Immigration Department's Vince McMahon has told a Senate estimates committee the woman did not have a working visa and aroused the suspicion of officials.

"Some of the answers to the questions that were asked were regarded as not forthcoming," he said.

"The officer reached the conclusion the woman in question had intentions to work and with the electronic travel authority there are no work rights.

"He took the decision to cancel the visa and then to detain the person."

The department says woman has since been released, and her visa reinstated.

By Another Raw Deal 16 February 05

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