External Scrutiny of Immigration Detention Services
Services provided for immigration detention centres are subject to parliamentary scrutiny and accountability.
The operations of immigration detention are continually subject to scrutiny from external agencies:
- the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC)
- the Commonwealth Ombudsman
- the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
- the Immigration Detention Advisory Group (IDAG).
The department's response to the HREOC Report of Annual Visits to Immigration Detention Centres is available.
See: DIMA response to HREOC Report on Annual Visits to Immigration Detention Centres (32KB PDF file)
See also: HREOC praises immigration detention improvements (Media Release, 19 January 2007)
Lodging complaints
All detained people have the right to lodge complaints about the management of an immigration detention facility or their treatment while in detention. They are able to pursue their complaints freely without fear of adverse consequences knowing that their complaint will be followed up in a timely and impartial way.
People in immigration detention can lodge a complaint with:
- the Detention Service Provider or departmental staff at the facility
- the Commonwealth Ombudsman
- the police
- State and Territory Child Welfare agencies
- other external agencies such as HREOC.
More information
The Immigration Detention Advisory Group (IDAG).
See: