Submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission’s National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention 2014 30 May 2014 Table of Contents LIST OF KEY TERMS AND ACRONYMS .......................................................................... 5 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 7 FRAMEWORK OF DETENTION ...................................................................................... 10 Overview ....................................................................................................................... 10 Legal framework ............................................................................................................ 11 Domestic law ............................................................................................................................. 11 International law ....................................................................................................................... 15 Policy framework ........................................................................................................... 17 DETENTION POPULATION ............................................................................................ 21 Method of arrival............................................................................................................ 21 Historical arrivals of Illegal Maritime Arrivals ................................................................. 21 Current numbers ........................................................................................................... 22 Length of time in detention ............................................................................................ 24 Reviews of detention ..................................................................................................... 26 ALTERNATIVES TO HELD DETENTION ........................................................................ 27 Community detention .................................................................................................... 27 Bridging visas ................................................................................................................ 29 Support provided to BVE holders ........................................................................................ 30 MANAGING DETENTION FACILITIES ............................................................................ 32 Onshore network ........................................................................................................... 32 Immigration residential housing ........................................................................................... 34 Immigration transit accommodation ................................................................................... 34 Alternative places of detention ............................................................................................. 34 Improvements to facilities .............................................................................................. 34 DEPARTMENTAL INTERACTIONS WITH CHILDREN ................................................... 36 Detainee placement ...................................................................................................... 36 Immigration Officers in Detention Facilities ................................................................... 38 2 Treatment of children .................................................................................................... 38 Complaints .................................................................................................................... 39 Family unity (Article 9 CRC, Articles 17 and 23 of the ICCPR) ..................................... 40 Family tracing ............................................................................................................................ 41 Internal Departmental changes ..................................................................................... 41 SERVICES IN DETENTION ............................................................................................. 43 Detention services ......................................................................................................... 43 Serco ............................................................................................................................................ 44 Health services .............................................................................................................. 45 Overview of health care arrangements (Articles 24 and 3(3) CRC) ......................... 45 Mental health care (Article 39 CRC) .................................................................................. 46 Pregnant women, nursing mothers, babies and children (Article 24(2) CRC) ...... 47 Children with a disability (Article 23 CRC) ........................................................................ 49 Dental health care .................................................................................................................... 50 Services for unaccompanied minors (Article 20 CRC) .................................................. 51 Care and support...................................................................................................................... 51 Independent observer ............................................................................................................. 52 Education (Article 28 CRC) ........................................................................................... 53 Education on Christmas Island ............................................................................................ 54 Other educational assistance ............................................................................................... 55 Programmes and activities (Article 31 CRC) ................................................................. 55 Religious activities (Articles 14 and 30 CRC) ................................................................ 56 Directed persons programme and volunteers ............................................................... 56 Access to legal assistance (Article 37(d) CRC) ............................................................. 57 Minor crew ..................................................................................................................... 57 3 GUARDIANSHIP .............................................................................................................. 59 Conflict of interest .......................................................................................................... 60 IGOC status assessment .............................................................................................. 61 Delegated guardians ..................................................................................................... 62 Qualifications of delegated guardians ........................................................................... 62 ENSURING THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN ...................................................................... 63 Child Protection (Articles 6 and 19 of the CRC) ............................................................ 63 Age determination ......................................................................................................... 64 EXTERNAL SCRUTINY ................................................................................................... 68 Commonwealth and Immigration Ombudsman ............................................................. 68 247 referred caseload ............................................................................................................. 68 2013 investigation into suicide and self-harm ................................................................. 69 Australian Human Rights Commission .......................................................................... 69 Senate Committees ....................................................................................................... 70 COMMUNITY AND CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT ...................................................... 71 Minister’s Council for Asylum Seekers and Detention ................................................... 71 Other examples of engagement .................................................................................... 71 PRE-TRANSFER ASSESSMENTS PRIOR TO TRANSFER TO AN OFFSHORE PROCESSING COUNTRY ............................................................................................... 73 Policy settings ............................................................................................................... 73 Pre-transfer assessments ............................................................................................. 73 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................. 75 Attachment A – Immigration Detention Facilities Overview as at 26 February 2014 ........ 76 Attachment B – Disability Facilities by Immigration Detention Facility .............................. 96 4 LIST OF KEY TERMS AND ACRONYMS APOD Alternative place of detention ASAS Asylum Seeker Assistance Scheme BVE Bridging Visa E CAS Community Assistance Support programme CAS TS Community Assistance Support – Transitional Support programme CAT Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment CEDAW