DIAC Response to the Australian Human Rights Commission’s 2009 Immigration Detention and Offshore Processing on Christmas Island Report

• back to Commission's Immigration detention and offshore processing on Christmas Island report (2009)
  

  
  

DIAC Response to the Australian Human Rights Commission’s 2009 Immigration Detention and Offshore Processing on Christmas Island Report

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Introduction

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) welcomes the opportunity

to respond to the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) report on Immigration detention and offshore processing on Christmas Island following its visit to Christmas Island in July 2009.

DIAC appreciates the Commission’s recognition of recent positive

reforms implemented on Christmas Island, but is of the view that the report

could go further in recognising the improvements in processing and client care

that have been implemented progressively over the past 12 months.

The report highlights areas where further changes are proposed and work is

already being advanced in some of these areas. For example, improvements have

been made in relation to client access to health and other services, including

specialised support for children, as well as measures to streamline processing

and reduce the length of time that clients are in detention. As noted below, the

Commission’s recommendations will be considered by DIAC in progressing a

number of other issues.

On 29 July 2008, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Senator Chris

Evans, announced a suite of reforms to Australia’s immigration detention

policy based on seven Key Immigration Detention Values.

The Key Immigration Detention Values reinforce that mandatory detention is an

essential component of strong border control and an integral part of ensuring

the integrity of Australia’s migration program.

Under the Government’s New Directions in Detention policy, irregular

maritime arrivals (IMAs) will continue to be mandatorily detained and processed

on Christmas Island.

When announcing New Directions in Detention on 29 July 2008, the Minister for

Immigration and Citizenship emphasised that the values were intended to maintain

strong border security, but also treat people with human dignity.

The Minister made clear that the values would apply on Christmas Island to

the full extent possible within the government's excision and non-statutory

refugee status processing arrangements, and given the accommodation and other

services that are able to be provided on the island.

The Migration Amendment (Immigration Detention Reform) Bill 2009 (the

‘Detention Reform Bill’), which was introduced into Parliament on 25

June 2009, will further improve Australia’s system of immigration

detention. The Bill proposes to amend the Migration Act 1958 (the

‘Act’) to support the implementation of the Government’s Key

Immigration Detention Values and will ensure increased clarity, fairness and

consistency in responding to unlawful non-citizens.

Outlined below is an overview of DIAC’s progress to date in

implementing the Key Immigration Detention Values on Christmas Island, and

DIAC’s response to the recommendations of the Commission’s

report.

Key improvements in improving processing and detention services on

Christmas Island

Some of the key improvements to services on Christmas Island have been:

• Prioritisation and care of minors and vulnerable clients:
  • The welfare of children remains a primary consideration. In

    accordance with the Government’s Key Immigration Detention Values, minors

    are never accommodated in the Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre

    (CIIDC);

  • Children and their accompanying family members are prioritised for

    both Refugee Status Assessment (RSA) processing and community detention

    placements;

  • In the case of unaccompanied minors on Christmas Island, DIAC

    engages with professional foster care service providers to care for these minors

    in the community. Unaccompanied minors attend school and their care

    arrangements are the subject of review by the Commonwealth Ombudsman's Office

    and the Australian Human Rights Commission. Australian Red Cross and volunteers

    from community groups also visit these young people regularly.

  • Those who require specialised physical or mental health care are

    transported to the mainland to access the required service, if it is unavailable

    on Christmas Island.

• Client amenities and case management of clients:
  • Further works are planned over the coming months at the CIIDC,

    Construction Camp and Phosphate Hill, to improve amenities for clients;

  • Case management on Christmas Island is focused on ensuring that

    cases are processed as quickly as possible and that individual clients are

    supported and informed through Case Management or external service providers as

    they proceed through the RSA process.

• Health care arrangements and support. A suite of health services are

  provided to people on Christmas Island, including:

  • Health care services commensurate to those available to the broader

    Australian community including early intervention, routine health care,

    emergency management of injuries/illnesses and counselling services. A triage

    system is used to prioritise services provided to clients, and where clinically

    indicated, clients may be transferred to Christmas Island hospital or the

    mainland for treatment;

  • Mental health and torture and trauma diagnostic screening for

    clients on arrival with ongoing assessments offered as part of ongoing

    care;

  • Torture and trauma counselling services for people in immigration

    detention; and

  • Mental health trained professionals on staff to service all clients

    (including those in community detention) with general mental health

    issues.

• Cross agency cooperation:
  • Refined whole of government IMA processes and information sharing

    has removed duplication in processes and the number and length of interviews,

    which has helped to minimise the period of time clients spend in immigration

    detention;

• Streamlined irregular maritime arrival (IMA) processing arrangements
  • Improvements to processing, including health, identity, security

    and refugee status assessment (RSA) processes, are minimising the amount of time

    IMA clients spend in immigration detention. Even with increases in the number

    of people being processed on the Island, DIAC is in practice deciding the vast

    majority of asylum claims on Christmas Island in around 100 days.

• Publicly funded migration assistance for asylum seekers:
  • All asylum seekers on Christmas Island are offered independent,

    professional migration assistance to help to prepare and present their case.

    The service continues to provide assistance during any independent merits review

    in the event of an unfavourable decision, when independent merits review is

    pursued by the client.

• Building stronger ties with the Christmas Island community:
  • DIAC is conducting regular monthly consultation forums with the

    local community where open and frank discussions are able to take place;

    and

  • A departmentally funded, locally based community liaison officer is

    to be engaged by the Shire to act as a conduit between DIAC and the local

    community and help bridge any gaps that may currently exist.
    

 

The retention of the excision of offshore islands, the mandatory

immigration detention of all irregular arrivals for the management of health,

identity and security risks to the community and the continued use of Christmas

Island for the non-statutory RSA processing of people who arrive at excised

offshore places are matters of Government policy. The Government is committed to

these policies as essential components of strong border control and important

elements in ensuring the integrity of Australia’s immigration program.

The Government has no intention to repeal or amend the provisions of the

Migration Act relating to excised offshore places or offshore entry persons.

 

The retention of the excision of

offshore islands, the mandatory immigration detention of all irregular arrivals

for the management of health, identity and security risks to the community and

the continued use of Christmas Island for the non-statutory RSA processing of

people who arrive at excised offshore places are matters of Government policy.

The Government is committed to these policies as essential components of strong

border control and important elements in ensuring the integrity of

Australia’s immigration program.

A number of changes have been made to the non-statutory RSA processing regime

on Christmas Island as part of the New Directions in Detention reforms. These

changes have improved the transparency and accountability of the RSA process.

As part of these reforms, asylum seekers receive publicly funded advice and

assistance, access to independent review of unfavourable decisions, and external

scrutiny by the Immigration Ombudsman. These measures build on strengthened

procedural guidance for departmental decision makers.

Publicly funded advice and assistance for asylum seekers is being provided on

Christmas Island under the existing contract arrangements between the Australian

Government and agencies employing professional migration agents under the

Immigration Advice and Assistance Scheme (IAAAS). This independent advice and

assistance is of the same quality as that which is afforded to protection visa

applicants onshore. In terms of quality of advice provided, there is no

disadvantage to asylum seekers on Christmas Island when compared to Protection

visa applicants on the mainland.

The draft policy guidelines governing RSA processes and the draft guidelines

under which the Independent Reviewers operate were circulated for consultation

on 11 September 2009 to the Commission, as well as UNHCR, the Commonwealth

Ombudsman and members of the Onshore Protection Consultative Group (OPCG). Some

responses remain outstanding but DIAC's aim is to finalise and publish the

guidelines following the next meeting of the OPCG in early November.

In respect of the specific concerns expressed by the Commission regarding the

non-statutory RSA process, DIAC would note, firstly, that DIAC is in practice

deciding the vast majority of asylum claims on Christmas Island in around 100

days. Furthermore, there has been no single instance where the Minister has not

accepted a recommendation of either the departmental decision-maker or the

Independent Reviewers.

The Government is satisfied that the non-statutory RSA process is consistent

with Australia’s international obligations under the Refugees Convention

and provides procedural fairness for asylum seekers.

The

retention of the excision of offshore islands, the mandatory immigration

detention of all irregular arrivals for the management of health, identity and

security risks to the community and the continued use of Christmas Island for

the non-statutory RSA processing of people who arrive at excised offshore places

are matters of Government policy. The Government is committed to these policies

as essential components of strong border control and important elements in

ensuring the integrity of Australia’s immigration program.

The retention of the excision of offshore islands, the mandatory

immigration detention of all irregular arrivals for the management of health,

identity and security risks to the community and the continued use of Christmas

Island for the non-statutory RSA processing of people who arrive at excised

offshore places are matters of Government policy. The Government is committed to

these policies as essential components of strong border control and important

elements in ensuring the integrity of Australia’s immigration program.

The Government's Key Immigration Detention Values reinforce that mandatory

detention is an essential component of strong border control and an integral

part of ensuring the integrity of Australia’s migration program. In

accordance with the Government's policy all irregular maritime arrivals are

subject to detention on Christmas Island whilst they undergo health, security

and identity checking. Where it is considered appropriate to refer cases to the

Minister under section 197AB of the Migration 1958 for a possible community

detention placement, these are made on a case by case basis with priority given

to unaccompanied minors, families and others for whom it is considered more

appropriate to refer for a residential determination.

The

retention of the excision of offshore islands, the mandatory immigration

detention of all irregular arrivals for the management of health, identity and

security risks to the community and the continued use of Christmas Island for

the non-statutory RSA processing of people who arrive at excised offshore places

are matters of Government policy. The Government is committed to these policies

as essential components of strong border control and important elements in

ensuring the integrity of Australia’s immigration program.

Section 494AA of the Migration Act is part of the excision

arrangements; the Government has no intention to repeal or amend the provisions

of the Migration Act relating to excised offshore places or offshore entry

persons.

In accordance with the Government's Key Immigration Detention Values,

immigration detention that is indefinite or otherwise arbitrary is not

acceptable and the length and conditions of detention will be subject to regular

review. The Government's intention is that immigration detention will be for the

shortest period possible and subject to increased transparency and

accountability.

In this respect DIAC would note, firstly, that it is in practice deciding the

vast majority of asylum claims on Christmas Island in around 100 days. Secondly,

the Ombudsman's reviews of all people in detention also apply on Christmas

Island. These reviews consider the appropriateness of the person's detention,

their detention arrangements and other matters relevant to their ongoing

detention and case resolution.

The s 494AA bar on certain proceedings relating to offshore entry persons

does not affect the jurisdiction of the High Court under s 75 of the

Constitution.

The broader matter of judicial review of a decision to detain is being

considered in the context of the Government’s response to the Joint

Standing Committee on Migration’s recommendations from its Inquiry into

Immigration Detention (see report 1, recommendation 14 re the Criteria of

Release from Detention).

The Government's Key Immigration Detention Values state that: ‘6.

People in detention will be treated fairly and reasonably within the law,’

and ‘7. Conditions of detention will ensure the inherent dignity of the

human person.’

As indicated in DIAC’s response to the Commission’s Immigration Detention Report 2008, DIAC has already put in place

mechanisms to ensure minimum standards for the treatment of people in

immigration detention, in line with the Key Immigration Detention Values.

DIAC has implemented, and continues to develop, instructional material

(Detention Instructions) that direct how departmental staff and service

providers must interact with and support people in immigration detention. These

instructions are reviewed regularly to ensure they are up to date and represent

best practice. Adherence to these instructions is stipulated in Chief Executive

Instruction 30.

The tender process used to determine DIAC’s new detention and health

service providers, and the new contracts in place with those providers, provide

significant opportunity for the DIAC to ensure compliance with Detention

Instructions. DIAC’s contract management area monitors service

providers’ performance to ensure compliance with these Instructions.

In June 2007, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners published

the Standards for Health Services in Australian IDCs. These standards

stipulate the level of health care that people in immigration detention can

expect to receive. While the standards are currently being adhered to by

DIAC’s Health Service Providers (HSP), new arrangements are being put in

place to monitor adherence and performance against these standards.

Regulatory reform processes are underway. The Detention Reform Bill proposes

to amend the Act to support the implementation of the Government’s Key

Immigration Detention Values.

The Bill proposes to amend the Act to:

• affirm the principle that the purpose of immigration detention is to manage

  risks to the Australian community and to resolve the non-citizen’s

  immigration status;

• affirm the principle that non-citizens must only be detained in a detention

  centre established under the Act as a measure of last resort and, if so

  detained, must be detained for the shortest practicable time;

• strengthen the existing principle in the Migration Act (that the

  detention of a minor is a measure of last resort) by providing that a minor,

  including a person reasonably suspected of being a minor, is not to be detained

  in a detention centre established under the Act:

  • and if a minor is to be detained, an officer must regard the best

    interests of the minor as a primary consideration for the purposes of

    determining where the minor is to be detained;

• create arrangements for granting temporary community access permissions

  which would allow a person in immigration detention to leave an immigration

  detention facility for specified periods or purposes without being accompanied

  by an escort;

• enable the Minister to delegate to senior departmental officers his power to

  make residence determinations, which enable immigration detainees to live in a

  community setting while their detention continues;

• make clear in the Act the specific classes of unlawful non-citizens who are

  subject to mandatory detention under the government's key Immigration Detention

  Values; and

• for certain immigration detainees who are not in excised offshore places, to

  require an officer to make reasonable efforts to:

  • ascertain the person's identity;
  • identify whether the person is of character concern;
  • ascertain the health and security risks to the Australian community

    of the person entering or remaining in Australia; and

  • resolve the person's immigration status.

The

provisions of the Reform Bill will all have effect throughout Australia,

including in excised offshore places such as Christmas Island.

Demonstrating its commitment to the

prevention of torture and to ensuring that Australia meets its obligations under

the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment

or Punishment (the Convention), the Australian Government on 19 May 2009

signed the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,

Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the Optional Protocol).

The Optional Protocol aims to assist parties to the Convention to comply with

their international obligations through the establishment of regular visits to

places of detention by an independent international body established under the

Optional Protocol (the United Nations Subcommittee for the Prevention of Torture

(the Subcommittee)). In addition, within one year from the date of entry into

force, parties are required to designate or establish one or more independent

national preventive mechanisms (NPM) with the power to examine places of

detention.

The Australian Government is working towards ratification in 2010 and is

proposing to defer the establishment of the NPM for three years, which is

permitted under the Optional Protocol. This will allow time to plan for and

implement Australia's NPM, including completing any necessary legislative

amendments at the Commonwealth, State and Territory level. Consultations are

continuing with the States and Territories and Commonwealth agencies on

necessary steps to implement the Optional Protocol within this timeframe. In

addition, the usual treaty making processes will apply, including preparation of

a national interest analysis for tabling in Parliament and scrutiny by the Joint

Standing Committee on Treaties.

Taking the further step of ratification will oblige Australia to allow the

Subcommittee, and the NPM once established, to conduct regular inspections of

all immigration detention facilities, including those located in excised

offshore places. DIAC is working with the Attorney-General's Department to

establish the necessary legislative mechanisms to facilitate this.

In the meantime, DIAC will continue to facilitate regular visits to

immigration detention facilities for oversight bodies such as the AHRC and the

Commonwealth Ombudsman.

In accordance with the Government’s Key Immigration Detention Values,

minors are never accommodated in the Christmas Island Immigration Detention

Centre nor at the secure Bravo Compound at Phosphate Hill.

All arrivals at

Christmas Island are given initial public health checks to protect the Christmas

Island community. Single adult men are housed in the Christmas Island

Immigration Detention Centre, while children and their families are housed in

the low-security Construction Camp facility. The construction camp is not an

immigration detention centre; it was originally established for use by

construction workers on the island and includes a range of recreational

facilities and ensuite rooms.

From here, clients seeking to remain in Australia undergo immigration

processing including more rigorous health checks, identity checks and security

clearance processes.

The priority is that minors and, where relevant their families, are promptly

accommodated in the Christmas Island community under residential determinations

once the appropriate checks, accommodation, support and supervision are in

place. These decisions are based on a needs-based assessment by case

managers.

Minors and their accompanying family members are also prioritised for refugee

status assessment processing. All claims for protection are assessed thoroughly

and DIAC aim to do this as quickly as possible. If protection is granted,

arrangements are made for immediate settlement on the mainland.

In 2005 the Migration Act was amended to affirm the

principle that children should only be detained as a last resort.

Section 4AA currently states:

(1) The Parliament affirms as a principle that a minor shall only be detained

as a measure of last resort.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the reference to a minor being

detained does not include a reference to a minor residing at a place in

accordance with a residence determination [Community Detention].

While section 4AA affirms the principle that children should only be detained

as a last resort, the principle does not limit the location and nature of any

such detention. The announcement of the Government’s Key Immigration

Detention Values formalised arrangements already in place operationally within

the Department, which – following the election of the Rudd Labor

Government – ensured that minors would never be detained in an immigration

detention centre.

The Detention Reform Bill currently before the Parliament includes two

measures to embed in the Act the Government's detention values relating to

children. It strengthens current section 4AA of the Act to provide that if a

minor is to be detained as a measure of last resort, the minor must not be

detained in a detention centre established under the Act. In addition, section

4AA is extended to explicitly state that if a minor is to be detained, the best

interests of the child must be a primary consideration for the purposes of

determining where and how the minor is accommodated. A proposed Government

sponsored amendment to the Bill will also make it clear that the best interests

of the child are a primary consideration in decisions about where any members of

the same family unit as the child are placed in immigration detention.

Additionally, the Minister intends to issue a Ministerial Direction under

section 499 of the Act to guide departmental officers as to the principles that

apply if a minor is detained. The broad objective behind the Ministerial

Direction will be to ensure that if a minor is detained for a short period while

their status is being resolved, their treatment and the conditions of the

detention environment are humane and have as little adverse impact on the child

as possible. The principles will be consistent with Australia’s

obligations under the Convention of the Rights of the Child 1989.

In addition to these reforms, DIAC is currently concluding a review of

compliance, removals and detention policy documents to ensure they reflect the

Government's Key Immigration Detention Values and make explicit the ‘best

interests of the child principle’ as a primary consideration when making

decisions in relation to minors as they enter, transit and leave immigration

detention.

Additionally, DIAC has implemented a notification process ensuring that

minors are appropriately placed and managed in the detention environment. The

procedure, established in January 2009, ensures senior executive service officer

oversight in situations where the detention or removal of a child is being

contemplated.

In relation to review processes relating to the decision to detain please see

the response to recommendation 5 above.

Under the Christmas Island

Act 1958 (Cth) (the CI Act), the laws in force in the Territory of Christmas

Island are:

• Commonwealth Acts as in force from time to time in or in relation to the

  Territory;

• Ordinances made under the CI Act after 1 July 1992, and certain specified

  Territory Ordinances made before that date; and

• Western Australian laws as in force in the Territory in accordance with s 8A

  of the CI Act.
  

DIAC notes the complexity of this legal framework and accepts the

need to clarify the respective roles and responsibilities of DIAC, other

Commonwealth agencies and state child welfare authorities with regard to the

welfare and protection of children who are in detention on Christmas Island.

Policy work is being progressed within DIAC around these issues. As part of this

process DIAC will examine the desirability of clarifying through formal

Memoranda of Understanding the respective roles and responsibilities of State

and Commonwealth authorities with regard to the welfare and protection of

children who are in detention on Christmas Island.

In relation to current care arrangements for unaccompanied minors, DIAC has

an agreement with Families South Australia, which governs foster care

arrangements for unaccompanied children residing in that state. DIAC is keen to

put similar arrangements in place in other states and territories. In the

absence of an agreement with the West Australian Government, DIAC has a foster

care arrangement with Life Without Barriers to support unaccompanied minors

placed in the community on Christmas Island.

Where DIAC staff have child welfare and protection concerns in respect of

children in immigration detention, they will refer those concerns immediately to

the relevant child protection authorities. On Christmas Island the department

refers any such concerns to the WA Department for Child Protection.

The Immigration

(Guardianship of Children) Act 1946 (IGOC Act), rather than the Migration

Act, creates the Minister's guardianship obligations towards children. It is

recognised that the IGOC Act is outdated and not designed for the purpose for

which it is now used. The Government particularly acknowledges the perceived

conflict of interest between the Minister's role as guardian under the IGOC Act

and being the decision-maker under the Migration Act. Policy work is being

progressed within DIAC to improve the regime governing children and

guardianship.

DIAC’s policy work will be progressed within the Government’s

broader agenda relating to children. The Council of Australian Governments

(COAG) recently endorsed a National Framework for Protecting Australia’s

Children – Protecting Children is Everyone’s Business 2009-2020,

which is a long-term agenda to improve the safety and well-being of children in

Australia. The Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments are now working

towards implementation of the first of three rolling action plans under this

Framework.

One of the key national priorities identified in the first action plan is the

potential role for a National Children’s Commissioner. This issue will be

taken forward by the Commonwealth, State and Territory Children’s

Commissioners and Guardians, in consultation with children and young people.

Advice will be provided to the Commonwealth Government in late 2009.

DIAC is a part of the Commonwealth Working Group addressing the

implementation of the first three-year action plan and will be actively

addressing the Child Commissioner issue from an immigration perspective,

including examining the ongoing appropriateness of the Immigration (Guardianship

of Children) Act 1946 and the role of the Minister for Immigration and

Citizenship under this act as the legal guardian of unaccompanied children.

In the interim, staff from Life Without Barriers act as independent adults

when unaccompanied minors are interviewed on Christmas island, and participate

in decision making to ensure the best interests of the child.

DIAC is considering options for softening the appearance of the IDC,

including removal of a number of internal fences and caged walkways. This will

occur where it is possible to do so at an acceptable cost.

DIAC is not considering replacement of the Electronic Detection and Deterrent

Systems (EDDS) with different fencing arrangements, as this would not be

practical or cost-effective. In any case, the facility is being managed in low

security mode and the EDDS is not activated. The EDDS is an accepted form of

security in public places and is used in various situations (such as embassies,

private businesses, etc) – it is not a security feature restricted to

immigration detention centres or other higher security facilities.

As indicated in DIAC’s response to the Immigration Detention Report

2008, all people entering immigration detention are provided with an

induction to the facility, including participating in an induction interview

with the Detention Services Provider (DSP). This induction includes information

on accommodation, dining, access to health care, access to pastoral care,

recreational activities, visitors and acceptable standards of behaviour. This

induction is provided in a language that is understood by the person and

qualified interpreters are used when required.

In addition, DIAC is currently drafting information sheets that provide an

overview of DIAC processes on Christmas Island, as well as the Refugee Status

Assessment process. Once finalised, these information sheets will be translated

into the principal client languages and provided to all clients on Christmas

Island.

People in immigration detention are actively encouraged to approach the DSP,

Health Service Providers or departmental staff if they have any queries or need

particular assistance. People in immigration detention are also encouraged to

complain about any aspects of their detention about which they are concerned.

Promotional material in several languages (including Arabic, Hindi, Mandarin and

Vietnamese) is displayed informing people in immigration detention that

complaints may be made to Departmental staff, DSP staff, the Ombudsman’s

Office, the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Australian Red Cross

about any aspects of a person’s detention and that relevant processes are

in place to receive and respond to those complaints. DIAC facilitates

interpreting services as required.

Information about health care

All people entering immigration detention are offered a Health Induction

Assessment, and if they consent, this assessment is conducted within three days

of the person entering detention. For people in an IDC, this assessment is

conducted by an IHMS registered nurse or general practitioner, who tells the

person about access to and the availability of health services. Where

necessary, telephone interpreters are used through Translating Interpreting

Services (TIS).

DIAC is in the process of developing a Health Handbook for Christmas Island

which is expected to be implemented in the first quarter of 2010. Once

finalised, this handbook will be translated into several key languages and

distributed to people in immigration detention at the time of the Health

Induction Assessment and on demand throughout their time in detention.

People in Community Detention receive a pack of information from the Health

Services Provider setting out the process for accessing health services. This

information pack is available in several frequently-used languages.

Migration Agent Assistance

Clients are provided with an IAAAS

Client Information Sheet that outlines the scope of the IAAAS assistance that

will be provided. This information is available in the major language groups of

the current client caseload. IAAAS migration agents are also required to

explain the process to their clients when they first start assisting them. An

interpreter is available to assist in this process at all times.

As part of screening and induction processes on arrival at Christmas Island,

clients:

• are provided with the opportunity to raise any claims that may prevent their

  return, including any protection claims;

• are provided with reasonable facilities to access legal advice during the

  initial processing;

• are advised that their cases are assessed individually and immigration

  outcomes are resolved subject to health, character and security processing, and;

• are advised of the scope of the IAAAS assistance to which they are

  entitled.

Asylum seekers are offered independent, professional

migration advice and assistance through the Immigration Advice and Application

Assistance Scheme (IAAAS), at public expense to help prepare and present their

case. This independent advice and assistance is of the same quality as that

which is afforded to protection visa applicants onshore. In terms of quality of

advice provided, there is no disadvantage to asylum seekers on Christmas Island

when compared to Protection visa applicants on the mainland. Individuals may

also appoint their own migration agent at their own expense if they wish.

Clients are provided with an IAAAS Client Information Sheet which outlines

the scope of the IAAAS assistance that will be provided. This information is

available in the major language groups of the current client caseload. IAAAS

migration agents are also required to explain the process to their clients. An

interpreter is available to assist in this process at all times.

While clients are not currently provided with formal written advice about the

RSA process, including the steps in the process and expected timeframes, a

client information package on the RSA process is currently being developed.

Currently this information is specifically provided to clients verbally by

Departmental officers during the RSA interview. All interviews with clients are

conducted with the assistance of an interpreter. Interpreters may also be made

available to go through any written documentation with clients where

required.

All IMAs in separation detention are able to call their family. Depending on

individual circumstances, they may have regular communication (for example on

compassionate grounds when a family member is ill).

Clients are able to access communication devices if they request access to a

lawyer, regardless of the stage of their processing. Under section 256 of the

Migration Act 1958 (the Act), DIAC is required to provide to people in

immigration detention “all reasonable facilities for...obtaining legal

advice or taking legal proceedings” on request.

DIAC recognises that access to telephones had been a longstanding technical

difficulty that created issues for clients with respect to timely, equitable and

appropriate distribution of access, however this has now been resolved. IMA

clients on Christmas Island (except for those clients in restrictive detention)

are provided with access to phones, and are able to make and receive phone calls

in privacy. Given the recently increased numbers of IMAs to Christmas Island,

DIAC continues to monitor client’s access to telephones closely.

DIAC notifies all detainees on Christmas Island of the outcome of their

non-statutory refugee status assessment at both primary and review stages in

writing. As for onshore protection visa applicants, notification letters are

provided in plain English. Clients are provided with interpreters to inform

them of the content of the notification letter and attached decision record in a

language they can understand. In addition, interpreters can assist DIAC staff

in answering any questions the clients may raise at the time of notification.

The IAAAS migration agent is also required to explain the RSA decision at

both primary and review stages to their client and the options available, and

interpreters are provided for this purpose.

These services are also made available to clients who are in onshore

immigration detention facilities.

Clients on Christmas Island are provided with a commensurate level of health

care services as those accommodated in mainland immigration facilities. Health

services are provided to people in immigration detention on Christmas Island by

International Health and Medical Services (IHMS) and the Indian Ocean

Territories Health Services (IOTHS).

While mental health services are available, DIAC continues to work with its

providers to build more capacity in terms of access to torture and trauma

support. All people who enter immigration detention are screened for torture and

trauma and mental health issues on arrival at Christmas Island and are regularly

offered subsequent assessments as part of their ongoing care.

IHMS currently have mental health trained professionals on staff to service

clients in all facilities with general mental health issues.

IOTHS, the local health authority, provides specific Torture and Trauma

services to all clients in immigration detention on Christmas Island.

Those who require specialised physical or mental health care are transported

to the mainland to access the required service, if it is unavailable on

Christmas Island.

In May 2009, DIAC ratified three new policies – ‘Identification and Support of People in Immigration Detention who are

Survivors of Torture and Trauma’, ‘Psychological Support

Program for the Prevention of Self Harm in Immigration Detention’ and ‘Mental Health Screening for People in Immigration Detention'.

DIAC is currently working on a strategy to commence the rollout of these

policies on Christmas Island. This will involve training to detention service

providers, detention health service providers, departmental staff and other key

stakeholders.

DIAC continues to improve its infrastructure to support recreational

activities on Christmas Island. The Construction Camp has a small gymnasium,

computer and internet services, an all-weather tennis and basketball court, and

electronic games.

The CIIDC has a number of outdoor recreational areas, as well as indoor

activity rooms. New sporting and gym equipment is being purchased for the IDC,

to further enhance indoor recreation options.

In addition, SERCO is implementing a range of programs and activities at

detention facilities on Christmas Island, including sporting competitions,

gardening, sewing classes and ESL classes.

In relation to clients in community detention (CD), the Red Cross has a

dedicated recreational officer on Christmas Island who is responsible for

organising activities and excursions for clients in CD. Life Without Barriers

(LWOB), who provide 24 hour care for unaccompanied minors in CD, are responsible

for ensuring their clients have access to a broad range of activities and

excursions. LWOB often joins with the Red Cross recreational officer in

arranging activities or outings. DIAC encourages these organisations to build

their capacity in this area, in consultation with the Christmas Island

community.

Children of school

age are enrolled at the Christmas Island School, which DIAC funds to provide

relevant services. DIAC is providing the following resources during Semester 2,

2009:

• five full-time teachers
• five full-time education assistants
• one refugee student coordinator (two days a week)
• provision of computers, printers and cameras for refugee

  classrooms, and

• adult education resources.

The ESL component of the

children’s education is incorporated into daily lessons.

A number of ESL classes are held each day for clients at the CIIDC and

Construction Camp. In addition, adults in CD can attend daily ESL classes at

the Community Centre.

DIAC notes that while some material is available, more reading material in

relevant languages is required for the library available to clients in the CIIDC

and the Construction Camp. SERCO has recently revamped the library at the CIIDC

with a view to making it into a multicultural resource centre, which will

provide both reading material and audio-visual material in the most prevalent

languages.

The provision of reading materials in principal languages is a requirement of

the detention service provider under their contract, so DIAC is negotiating with

SERCO to arrange these as a matter of priority.

The Detention Services Contract (DSC) has been

developed to ensure implementation of the Immigration Detention Values and

includes a monitoring regime with penalty clauses for breaches. The DSC requires

the DSP to provide an appropriate range of Programs and Activities which may

include external excursions.

Examples of excursions and activities for people in immigration detention on

Christmas Island include:

• movie excursions
• picnics
• fishing
• outings to local church services
• breakfast excursions for women and children
• art and Australian studies classes provided by local community members with

  education backgrounds

• performances for clients by visiting musicians
• sewing classes
• language lessons
• library and internet services.
  

DIAC and the DSP must always consider a range of operational

requirements when determining the frequency and level of excursions.

In relation to activities and excursions for clients in community detention,

the Red Cross has a dedicated recreational officer on Christmas Island who is

responsible for organising activities and excursions for clients in community

detention.

Life Without Barriers (LWOB), who provide 24 hour care for unaccompanied

minors in community detention, are responsible for ensuring their clients have

access to a broad range of activities and excursions. LWOB often joins with the

Red Cross recreational officer in arranging activities or outings for clients in

community detention.

Construction Camp and IDC clients are accompanied by

designated persons when they participate in activities or excursions outside of

a place of immigration detention. Clients in community detention are not

required to be accompanied by designated persons when they participate in

activities of excursions.

Clients in CD can access religious services of their choice at either the

mosque or the Community Centre. DIAC has provided CD clients with prayer mats

and copies of the Qur'an when requested.

Clients at the IDC or the Construction Camp may access religious services

once their restriction ends. The DSP is contracted to ensure suitable services

are available at the facilities, and that these are conducted by suitable,

qualified individuals. Visits to Christmas Island by religious leaders have

also been facilitated to further ensure that clients can access a range of

religious services.

Where possible, excursions to religious services in the community are

facilitated once health screening is complete, but this is dependent on

available transport and escort services (including the use of designated persons

where appropriate). The security risk rating of the client is also taken into

account when considering excursions in a community setting.

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