Australia to free some long-term detainees

Australia softened its tough immigration detention rules yesterday and will free some long-term detainees, ending a seven-year policy designed to deter people smugglers and stop the flow of refugee boats to Australia.

The changes will head off a rift within the conservative Government after disaffected MPs publicly complained about the harsh treatment of people locked up in the Baxter detention camp in South Australia.

On Monday, 30 mainly Muslim detainees won a review of their asylum claims after some converted to Christianity.