Tatura Inquiry
p. 27 · Read in the full issue
Progress Report of Tatura Inquiry
BY mid-April Mr. Justice Simpson had heard 371 cases in the civilian in ternees inquiry at Tatura (Victoria), and, on his recommendation, 147 Germans and 11 Italians had been given deporta tion orders by Immigration Minister Calwell. (See article February “PIM.”) The others —177 Germans and .36 Italians—have been permitted to remain in Australia (or presumably, where ap plicable, return to New Guinea).
It is believed that a progress report has been submitted by Mr. Justice Simp son to the Commonwealth Government, but all other details are still withheld. It is not known, for example, how many ex-New Guinea residents have been re leased from Tatura and whether they will be permitted to return to the Ter ritory.
Only information on the subject of internees generally has come through “questions in the House.” In the House of Representatives, Canberra, recently, Mr. Spender (Liberal) asked: “Is there any reason why internees of enemy nationality, who have reasonably been suspected of subversive activities during the war, should not be deported?”
Dr. Evatt (Department of External
Affairs) replied that, in his opinion, no enemy alien should be deported unless he had been proved to be engaged in subversive activity as distinct from hav ing been merely suspected of having been so engaged. For that reason, he s. id, each case required separate inves tigation.