Age claim boy attempted hanging

The Age - 22 July 2002

Dear Sir/Madam,

Your report on Saturday 20 July of an alleged hanging incident at Woomera Immigration Reception and Processing Centre is wrong.

No child was injured or was "cut down" after trying to hang themselves at Woomera last week.

A number of detainees including minors were involved in an incident at the Woomera detention centre on Thursday. The group was shouting and throwing rocks at ACM officers. The incident coincided with a visit by detention services contract tenderers.

A minor who threatened self-harm was taken to the medical centre on-site and found to have no sign of injury.

A phone call to the Department would have confirmed this.

Yours sincerely

Roger Wheatley
Acting Director
Public Affairs
Dept of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs