Ombudsman

The Australian - 30 September 2002

Dear Sir/Madam,

Sofie Morris, Detention strife going unreported (Page 6 Friday 27 September), not only fails to acknowledge that the Ombudsman's comments are based on reports which are 18 months old but also fails to acknowledge, to use the Ombudsman's words, "there have been some substantial improvements".

Mr McLeod told a Parliamentary inquiry: "…you have to understand that that report on the detention centres was released in March 2001… Going back to some visits that we made in the year 2000…We have separately acknowledged that in the period between then and now there have been some substantial improvements made in detention centres".

The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs worked closely with the Ombudsman's office at the time and subsequently, particularly on issues relating to incident reporting. The result was that the Ombudsman did not feel it necessary to undertake a formal report on issues relating to incident reporting, being satisfied with the changes the department had implemented.

The comments in your article relating to jailed criminals having more rights than immigration detainees are seriously flawed. In all but a very few situations relating to processing arrangements, immigration detainees have unfettered access to postal and telephone services. There are medical personnel on site with people requiring further treatment referred to specialists or transferred to hospitals.

Providing there are no security concerns detainees are able to receive visitors regularly during visiting hours and there is no limit on the number of visits a person may make.

Your selective editing of comments made by the Ombudsman and failure to contact the department for comment does nothing for your story's credibility.

Stewart Foster
Director
Public Affairs
Dept of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs