Items Not Permitted in Immigration Detention Centres
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Items that are illegal
Items that are illegal in Australia are not permitted in Immigration Detention Centres. For example:
- illicit drugs and associated paraphernalia
- illegal weapons.
Items that present a risk to the health
Examples of items that present a health risk to people in immigration detention, visitors and staff, such as:
- alcohol
- non-prescribed medication, vitamins or supplements
- uncooked animal products (including eggs, raw meat/fish, etc)*.
Items that present a risk to privacy, safety or security
Examples of items that present a risk to privacy, safety or security to people in immigration detention, visitors and staff:
- weapons of any kind
- flammable sprays, liquids and solids (including cigarette lighters and matches)*
- modems and IT communications devices that allow internet access*
- tools and equipment*
- sporting equipment*
- sharps including syringes, knives or razor blades*
- glass items including picture frames containing glass components*
- 'untagged' electrical equipment (current electrical certificate required)*
- cameras and audio-visual recording devices*
- travel documents
- personal photographs and photographic identification documents, including passports*
- money, including cash, cheques and banking cards*.
Items that may be offensive
Examples of items that may be offensive to others:
- pornographic books, magazines or material
- material that incites violence, racism or hatred.
Approval for controlled items
The detention service provider may permit visitors to bring into the centre certain ‘controlled’ items (marked with an asterisk '*') under conditions of entry and use, for example registering the item.
Prior approval should be sought from the detention service provider if you wish to bring such items into the centre. The entry of all items to an immigration detention centre must be subject to screening or searching by centre staff. All disputes as to whether items are permitted in the centre, or conditions of entry and use, are to be resolved by the department's Regional Manager.