Offshore management of asylum seekers

Objectives

• Facilitate the effective operation and management of offshore processing centres for asylum seekers in third countries
• Ensure that offshore processing centres in Nauru and Manus Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG), are closed in a timely manner with due consideration given to transferring residents, disposing of assets and negotiating conditions of closure with host governments and other stakeholders.

Description

The department monitored, supported and advised on offshore centre and related activities to allow people in offshore processing centres (OPCs) to be appropriately accommodated, cared for and given the opportunity for any asylum claims to be considered. The department moved quickly to implement the government's new policy to close the offshore processing centres in Nauru and Manus Province in PNG.

Performance

Following the Federal election in November the new government moved rapidly to end the 'Pacific Strategy' and close the OPCs in Nauru and Manus Province. The cases of the remaining 89 residents of the Nauru OPC were resolved quickly, with the last group of refugees departing Nauru for resettlement in Australia on 8 February 2008. On 31 March 2008, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which operated the centres in Nauru and PNG, closed the OPCs, returned the sites and gifted their assets to the respective host governments. Closure of the centres formally ended the 'Pacific Strategy'.Prior to their departure, centre residents had access to appropriate accommodation, care and human services. The IOM provided high-quality and responsive services in its management of the processing centres, giving priority to the social wellbeing of residents. The IOM continually reviewed its community health programs, ensuring programs addressed changing needs. These included a wide range of sporting and leisure activities such as television, videos and reading materials and education programs including language classes and computer skills.

Prior to closing the centre in Nauru, the IOM reconfigured the site to better address Nauru's future needs. Fixed residential accommodation was converted to temporary classrooms for high school students while AusAID rebuilds Nauru's secondary school as part of the existing development assistance package. Office accommodation previously occupied by the department, the IOM and the Australian Federal Police was retained for use by the government of Nauru. Some demountable buildings were relocated for use as school buildings elsewhere on the island.

Table 62: Offshore management of asylum seekers—performance information

Measures	Results
Quality
The standard of care provided to Offshore Processing Centre (OPC) residents through the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is high and is monitored consistently through assurance framework	The department monitored the performance of all contractors engaged in projects related to OPCs. The departmental liaison officer in Nauru and Canberra-based officers who travelled to Nauru, reviewed performance and ensured that the care and accommodation provided to residents of OPCs was appropriate and of a good standard. The IOM, which operated the centres, met its requirement of quarterly reporting against an agreed assurance framework.