Detention centre issues

Sunday Herald Sun - 11 Mar 2002

Dear Sir

Adrian Tame's report of Ray Hartigan's allegations is a very unbalanced piece of journalism.

A member of staff in this Department spent hours researching responses to Mr Tame's questions to discover that only two very short sentences were used to refute several column inches of claims by Ray Hartigan.

The Department is extremely disappointed that Mr Tame did not see fit to use that material (and thus present a balanced article to your readers) so I will present this information to you directly.

Claims that detainees are driven in circles for hours in journeys to cells are absurd. There are no 'punishment cells' in our detention centres. Some detainees may be kept for short periods away from other detainees for health reasons or where their behaviour is in danger of putting themselves or others at risk.

If Mr Hartigan has evidence to support allegations of inappropriate treatment to detainees he should provide it to appropriate authorities. The Department treats any allegations very seriously.

The conditions at immigration centres have been developed to ensure they are consistent with Australia's international treaty obligations. They provide, apart from safe and secure detention, health services, religiously and nutritionally appropriate meals, religious services, educational and recreational pursuits, as well as meeting individual care needs.

The detention program as a whole is closely scrutinised by the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, the Commonwealth Ombudsman, the Australian Parliament's Joint Standing Committee on Migration, and the Immigration Detention Advisory Group.

Woomera Immigration Reception and Processing Centre is not staffed by untrained teenagers. In view of the wide range of circumstances in the detainee population, ACM endeavours to select staff across a broad spectrum including men and women of various ages and ethnic backgrounds and with skills in languages other than English.

All detention officers are required to undergo a six-week comprehensive training program prior to taking up positions.

In addition, they are required to undergo 40 hours of refresher training each year and attend specialist courses for example, in relation to reporting requirements under SA Child Protection legislation.

Medical attention is freely available to detainees and is not at any time withheld. There is no reluctance to treat health issues whether caused by injury or illness. Medical staff make decisions whether someone needs to be taken to a specialist for further treatment. That advice is followed.

There is a medical clinic at the centre, where detainees can present their concerns about their health, plus dispensaries for each compound. The clinic is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is staffed by nurses. There are currently four nurses at Woomera. Two doctors, one full-time and one part-time, work at the centre Monday to Friday and are on call after hours.

DIMIA's relationship is with Australian Correctional Management not Wackenhut. Although a subsidiary of an international company, ACM is an Australian company operating in the Australian environment, according to Australian laws and management principles.

Further, Mr Tame has wilfully misrepresented a number of the Department's responses to Mr Hartigan's allegations.

It is true that from time to time there are incidents in centres where scuffles break out. These incidents are not common. Further, any allegations of inappropriate action by staff are investigated and dealt with by the appropriate authorities.

The Department is aware of an allegation that a detainee's arm was broken in the course of a scuffle with detention officers. This allegation is being investigated.

ACM is required under the contract to ensure that all detainees are present in the centre and that the safety and good order of the centre is maintained. Roll calls and searches for prohibited items are conducted but every effort is made to limit the extent to which these disrupt the detainees.

However, in situations where for example there have been escapes or attempted escapes it is necessary to conduct such roll calls or searches at night and unfortunately this can be disruptive to other detainees.

An abridged version of the agreement, under which ACM operates the detention facilities including Woomera, is available on this website www.immi.gov.au/detention/acs/acs.htm.

I trust that in future your reporters will ensure readers are presented with accurate and unbiased information.

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