Two Removed from Australia Following Recent Fires and Unrest
Media Release - DPS 5/2003
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) confirmed today, two men have been removed from Australia, following the recent fires and unrest in detention centres.
One of the men, a New Zealand citizen was removed from Australia last Friday. The man, along with three other detainees was charged by West Australian police, following an incident at the Perth detention facility on 30 December.
Another man, a Chinese national, involved in the recent Villawood
fires has also been removed from Australia.
Of the 15 Villawood detainees who were placed in police facilities
last week, five have been charged and remanded in custody to appear
in Court on 8 January. The other ten remain in immigration detention
in police facilities.
Of the ten detainees transferred from Port Hedland, two have been returned to the detention facility and eight remain in immigration detention in police facilities. Investigations are continuing.
One man, an Iranian national from the Woomera facility, has been charged with arson and has appeared in court today. All the remaining detainees from Woomera and Baxter who were in police facilities, have since been returned to their respective centres.
A total of six men have now been charged by the Australian Federal Police with numerous offences resulting from the recent fires and unrest in detention facilities. The charges include affray, arson, damage to Commonwealth property and attempting to escape detention.
This week Australian Federal Police continue their investigations into the fires and more charges are expected to be laid.
A man stabbed at Villawood centre late Saturday today remains in hospital in a stable condition. New South Wales police are investigating the incident.
The Department has published photos of weapons and other contraband found during detailed searches of detention centres last week. These articles include makeshift weapons, metal bars, cigarette lighters and 13 pairs of scissors.
The estimated damage bill for the fires has reached $9.35 million: Baxter $2.25 million, Woomera $2 million, Port Hedland $3 million, Christmas Island $1.6 million (this figure includes the $400,000 for recent fires and $1.2 million for a fire in early December), Villawood $500,000.
Photos of weapons retrieved during last week's searches will be available on Mr Ruddock's web site at www.minister.immi.gov.au.
6 January 2003
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