In closed hearing, Alison Battisson says country has a ‘terrifying’ record of detaining people unlawfully for indefinite periodsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAn Australian human rights lawyer and a former long-term immigration detainee have given private testimony to the United Nations on Australia’s detention and consular practices, condemning successive governments for “criminalising immigration” and alleging inadequate support for victims of hostage diplomacy.Alison Battisson, from the charitable law firm Human Rights for All, and the former detainee Said Imasi addressed the UN working group on arbitrary detention in Geneva this week, in special closed sessions marking the group’s 30th anniversary.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...