Question on Notice: Illegal Immigration: Detention is available as a PDF file

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Illegal Immigration: Detention

Mrs Irwin asked the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, upon notice, on 30 November 2000:

(1) How many persons under the age of 18 have been held in detention centres in 2000.

(2) What has been the average length of stay for persons under the age of 18 in detention centres.

(3) How many persons under the age of 18 have been held in adult compounds rather than family quarters.

(4) Have any persons under the age of 18 knowingly been detained in adult compounds where they do not have a close relative.

(5) On how many occasions have close family groups been separated in detention centres.

(6) What priority is given to providing family accommodation to detainees arriving at the (a) Curtin, (b) Darwin and (c) Woomera Centres.

(7) Are detention centres subject to State laws.

(8) What procedures are there for detainees or staff at detention centres to lodge complaints with State Government agencies.

(9) Are detainees routinely prohibited from communicating with media representatives; if so why.

(10) Are any agencies independent of the Commonwealth Government permitted to investigate and report on conditions in detention centres; if so, which agencies.

(11) Have any complaints alleging sexual abuse been made by detainees at the Villawood Detention Centre; if so, were the complaints referred to the appropriate NSW authorities.

Mr Ruddock —The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1) 914 minors have been held in detention centres during 2000 until 14 December.

(2) At 14 December, there were 210 minors in detention. Of these 46% have been in detention for less than three months, 38% have been in detention for greater than three months but less than twelve months and 16% have been in detention for greater than twelve months.

(3) Families are generally accommodated in separate buildings in most detention centres. At the Villawood centre there are, however, two separate compounds. Stage 1 and Stage 1.5 are for adult males only; and families and minors are housed in Stage 2.

(4) Refer to previous answer. Prior to 22 February 2000, a number of young people (16,17 year olds) have at some time been accommodated in Stage 1 of Villawood. Since that date, this no longer happens.

(5) This is not information which is collated by the Department. There are, however, circumstances where family groups may be separated. These include where family members may arrive on different boats and therefore may be accommodated in different centres. On occasions when the Department has become aware of this, the Department has moved close family members together in one centre. Other circumstances include: when a member of a family is transferred to prison or to another area within the centre as a result of actions by them which may be a threat to the security of the centre; or where they are charged with an offence; or where they are at risk of self harm or of harming other detainees or staff.

(6) There is no detention facility in Darwin. Priority is always given at Curtin and Woomera, as it is at all the detention centres, to appropriately house families.

(7) The power to detain is derived from the Migration Act (1958). It is a requirement of the Immigration Detention Standards, which form part of the detention contract, that detention facilities are managed in a manner that is consistent with relevant Commonwealth and State/Territory laws.

(8) Specific procedures are in place for detainees to make direct contact with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission and the Commonwealth Ombudsman. There are no specific procedures for detainees to lodge complaints with State Government agencies. However, detainees are able to contact whoever they like, including State Government Agencies, once initial screening has been completed and they are accommodated with the general detainee population within their centre. In addition, staff are able to contact State Government agencies direct and indeed in some cases have mandatory reporting obligations.

(9) Detainees are able to contact whoever they like, including the media, once initial screening has been completed and they are accommodated with the general detainee population within their centre. Until this occurs, detainees have limited communication opportunities outside the centre. This is done in order to preserve the integrity of the refugee assessment process.

(10) Immigration Detention Centres are subject to external scrutiny through the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission and the Commonwealth Ombudsman. In addition, the Joint Standing Committee on Migration has also visited immigration detention facilities and recently published a report concerning these centres, Not the Hilton.

(11) In April 2000, there was an allegation of sexual abuse by a detainee against another detainee. The matter was referred to NSW police for investigation.