No Processing Delays at Woomera
Media Release - DPS 44/2002
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) today rejected claims that detainees at the Woomera Immigration Reception and Processing Centre were experiencing delays in the processing of their asylum claims.
"The majority of the applications have been rejected and the detainees have been found not to be refugees. Their detention is being prolonged through their own actions in appealing the negative decisions," a DIMIA spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said that of the 177 detainees currently at Woomera -
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Only six detainees were waiting for a primary decision and these were subject to security or criminal record checks
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95 have had the application process finalised and were available for removal
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54 were before the courts
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five were waiting a final determination on return from the RRT
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17 were before the RRT
In relation to the "hunger strike," the spokesperson noted that although the protest began on Monday 24 June, to date only two detainees, one with a pre-existing medical condition, had required medical treatment in relation to not eating. No other detainees had required medical treatment or attended hospital as a result of not eating.
Food and fluids continue to be available to all detainees. Any detainees participating in a protest, consistent with standard practice, are being monitored by medical staff and provided with all necessary medical treatment.
A total of 115 detainees including 10 minors did not attend lunch and dinner in the dining room yesterday. Two adult males have a single stitch in their lips.
5 July 2002
Media inquiries: Public Affairs 02 6264 2244