9 December 2008
New Christmas Island immigration detention centre should not be used
Human Rights Commissioner, Graeme Innes, today urged the Australian Government to refrain from using the massive new detention centre on Christmas Island to hold people in immigration detention.
The Minister for Immigration has said that the new centre will be used when numbers require it.
Responding to a media report today that recent arrivals could lead to the new detention centre being used, Mr Innes reiterated concerns he raised after his visit to the centre in August.
“The new immigration detention centre on Christmas Island is completely inappropriate for detaining asylum seekers - not only is it the most isolated facility on an extremely remote island, but it looks and feels like a high-security prison,” Commissioner Innes said. “I am deeply concerned at the prospect of people being detained there for any period of time.”
With the nearest capital city, Perth, 2600 km away, Mr Innes said Christmas Island was possibly the most remote part of Australia the government could use to put people who are seeking asylum from persecution.
“That distance limits access to basic services,” the Commissioner said. “Moreover, the small size of the local community and the very limited infrastructure also make it difficult for immigration detainees to get adequate access to services like health care, mental health care, legal assistance, and cultural and religious support.”
“These people include men, women and even unaccompanied children, who are seeking Australia’s protection,” he said. “Realistically, in such a remote and inaccessible location, how can Australia expect to properly meet its international obligations to them?”
The Commissioner said that all unauthorised arrivals who make claims for asylum should be assessed through the refugee status determination process on the Australian mainland.
“People should not be held in immigration detention on Christmas Island,” Mr Innes said.
The 2008 report of the Human Rights Commissioner’s annual inspection of immigration detention facilities around Australia, including those on Christmas Island, will be released in January 2009.
Media contact: Brinsley Marlay 02 9284 9656 or 0430 366 529
