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 Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
- the Commonwealth Ombudsman
- the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
- the Council for Immigration Services and Status Resolution (CISSR)
The department's response to the AHRC 2008 Immigration Detention Report is available.
See: DIAC response to the AHRC 2008 Immigration Detention Report (246KB PDF file)
See also: Report Acknowledges Positive Detention Changes (Media Release, 13 January 2009)
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 the AHRC.
More information
The Council for Immigration Services and Status Resolution (CISSR).
See: Council for Immigration Services and Status Resolution (CISSR)