The facts about water provided to the protesters
While the Department of Immigration and Citizenship was not responsible for the management of the consequences of the detainees’ escape on September 1 from the Northern Immigration Detention Centre (NIDC), police officers, police negotiators and interpreters told protesters water and other provisions were available.
The Northern Territory Police makes it clear in its September 2 media release at www.nt.gov.au/pfes/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewMediaRelease&pID=11162&y=2010&mo=9 that water was continually offered by them. In fact some detainees did at the outset accept both water and sunscreen from detention services provider staff, however many indicated they would not accept water during the day for religious reasons. At no point throughout the protest did any detainee ask for water and at no point did police (or DIAC) refuse access to water.
The facts about the transfer to Curtin Immigration Detention Centre (CIDC)
Department officials informed detainees on August 31 that damage to accommodation blocks caused by earlier protests had rendered them unfit for occupation until they were repaired, such that some of the detainees would be transferred to the Curtin Immigration Detention Centre. This was based on a need provide appropriate accommodation under the department’s duty of care obligations and that at Curtin, the existing detainee population was composed entirely of Afghan males.
The detainees being transferred were also told that some of them may be returned to NIDC when those parts of the centre were considered suitable to accommodate clients again. The men were also told the move to Curtin would not affect their immigration case in any way.
The facts about informing detainees about visas and removals
As part of the department’s policy to regularly engage with its detention clients, the detainees were briefed in groups on August 23, 24 and 25 on the processes associated with their protection visa applications, and how the independent merits review system operated.
In this 90-minute briefing, the department sought to help detainees understand the processing stages and what might occur if they received negative primary decisions on their asylum claims, and if they then chose to pursue an independent merits review.
This was undertaken in a professional and sensitive manner by a senior case manager to assure the detainees of their future options. This was not an information session about removals, but about the processes that lay ahead for the detainees. The department believes it is important to engage with its clients in detention on an ongoing basis to ensure they are aware of the options they face.
The department has consistently made clear to detainees its primary decisions can be subject to merits review and that removal would never occur prior to these options being exercised, if they wished.
Media Enquiries: National Communications (02) 6264 2244
