18 June 2008
Refugee Week: Detention centre inspections to begin
As the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) prepares to begin annual inspections of immigration detention centres, Australian Human Rights Commissioner Graeme Innes took time today, during International Refugee Week, to reflect on some of changes which have taken place in Australia’s refugee system.
“This has been an encouraging year so far for people who have travelled to Australia to escape fear, persecution and injustice in their own countries,” said Commissioner Innes. “We have seen the dismantling of the Pacific Solution, the abolition of Temporary Protection Visas and now an inquiry will be conducted into the criteria for immigration detention and the alternatives that are available to that system.”
The so-called ‘Pacific Solution’ ended in February with the closure of the detention centre in Nauru and Temporary Protection Visas were discontinued as part of the federal budget announcements in May. Last week, the government announced that the Federal Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Migration would conduct a wide-ranging inquiry into immigration in Australia with a view to integrating ‘a humanitarian approach that treats all people with dignity’ into Australian policy on overseas arrivals.
“While these have been very positive developments, there is still a way to go toward repairing the shameful reputation Australia has developed for the way it has treated frightened, vulnerable people seeking refuge and asylum in our country over the last decade or so,” Mr Innes said.
Mr Innes said that, while it is inarguable that Australia maintain border protection, treating asylum seekers with compassion was paramount.
“We have repeatedly highlighted the fact that mandatory and indefinite detention has a debilitating effect on the mental health of detainees,” he said. “HREOC has long advocated for the implementation of alternatives to immigration detention, including the issue of bridging visas and residence determinations that would allow people to live in the community, as well as the removal of restrictive bridging visa conditions issued to some asylum seekers which have led to poverty and homelessness.”
Every year HREOC undertakes inspections of immigration detention centres to monitor the conditions for compliance with internationally-recognised human rights obligations.
HREOC will be conducting inspections of Villawood Immigration Detention Centre (IDC) and Sydney Immigration Residential Housing in late June, Perth IDC and Perth Immigration Residential Housing in mid July, Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation in early August, Maribyrnong IDC and Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation in late August, Northern IDC, Darwin in September and Christmas Island at a date yet to be scheduled.
Commissioner Innes said that Refugee Week was a good opportunity for Australians to reflect on the universality of human rights, and our global responsibilities towards refugees. In this 60th anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we should celebrate and recognise the right to seek and enjoy, in other countries, asylum from persecution.
Media contact: Brinsley Marlay (02) 9284 9656 or 0430 366 529
