Without Refuge series inaccuracies
The Australian - letter not yet published
Dear Sir/Madam,
The Without Refuge series of articles (17 December 2001) contains misleading and inaccurate information which needs to be corrected.
The Department is legally obliged to immediately release people who are assessed as refugees.
All detainees have access to extensive medical treatment while in detention and those granted temporary protection visas (TPVs) are medically cleared by a doctor as fit to travel before being released.
In addition, the follow up and monitoring of TPV holders with a health condition is undertaken by state health authorities in accordance with routine practices.
With respect to release destinations, family reunification is a key criterion in the decision as to where a person is released.
In fact during the process of having asylum claims assessed, people are actively encouraged and have at least three formal opportunities to identify links with family members already in the Australian community.
In the case of the children referred to in one article, they did not divulge information about family links with an uncle in Perth during their interviews.
The woman mentioned as being sent to Brisbane with stitches was in fact cleared to travel by Woomera medical staff and travelled with her husband after identifying family links in that city.
It should also be noted that the children living under the Story Bridge, are in fact accommodated in government housing located in that area, contrary to what the relevant article implies.
Furthermore, TPV holders have access to a wide range of benefits available to Australian nationals, including Medicare, Special Benefit, Rent Assistance, Family Tax Benefit, Child Care Benefit, Double Orphan Pension, Maternity Allowance and Maternity Immunisation Allowance.
They also have access to the Early Health Assessment and Intervention Program, including torture and trauma counselling, funded through the Department to provide specialist support for refugees.
They also have the right to work and access to job matching by Centrelink.
Stewart Foster
Director, Public Affairs