Extra 220 children may have been wrongly detained as adult people smugglers in Australia, government admits

<p>In 2023 the federal court ordered $27.5m compensation for an initial estimated 220 Indonesian minors wrongly detained – but that number has now doubled</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/feb/26/australia-news-live-chalmers-us-tariffs-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-senate-estimates-cost-of-living-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></li><li>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></li></ul><p>The Australian government has revealed that a further 220 Indonesian children may have been wrongly detained as adult people smugglers, doubling the number initially thought.</p><p>Late in 2023 the federal court ordered $27.5m in compensation for an <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/13/indonesians-could-be-compensated-children-wrongly-jailed-people-smugglers">estimated 220 Indonesian children</a> who were wrongly detained as adult people smugglers between 2010 and 2012.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/26/australia-government-indonesian-children-wrongly-jailed-people-smuggling-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>