Christmas Island Immigration Reception and Processing Centre

Christmas Island Immigration Reception and Processing Centre or commonly just Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre, is an Australian immigration detention facility located on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

History

Temporary facilities for asylum seekers were established on Christmas Island at Phosphate Hill in late 2001. This temporary facility was found inadequate in terms of size, amenity and security. On 12 March 2002, the Australian Government announced the replacement of the existing temporary facility and the construction of a purpose designed and built IRPC on Christmas Island with a capacity of 1200 people. In June 2002, after a tender process, a contractor was appointed to design and construct the facility on a fast track basis.

Due to the reduction in the number of boat arrivals in 2001 and 2002 (boat arrivals had reached the Australian mainland since mid-2001), the Australian Government announced on 19 February 2003 to scale back the proposed 1200 person IRPC to 800 places. The existing construction contract was terminated.

In September 2003, it was decided to proceed with the construction of the centre with accommodation capacity for approximately 800 people; 416 housed in purpose-designed and built accommodation units, and a further 384 in basic contingency accommodation.^[1]

Facility

The centre was constructed on a 40 ha (99-acre) site, formerly a phosphate mining lease, at the north-western end of Christmas Island, next to the Christmas Island National Park. The A$208 million centre was built by Baulderstone from January 2005 until August 2006, for the Department of Finance and Administration. It consists of eight accommodation units, education and recreation building, tennis courts and central sports area. Central facilities include induction/visiting area, main reception, administration centre, conference centre, kitchen, laundry and stores, medical centre and utilities building. External facilities include warehouse and visitor processing building.^[2]

In 2009, the capacity of the centre was increased to 1800 places and in early 2010 to 2040 places.^[3] In February 2010, the Federal Government announced to further increase the capacity to between 2200 and 2300 places "within a couple of weeks".^[4] In April 2010 there were 2208 people in detention.^[3]

In June 2013 a surge of asylum-seekers resulted in the detention facilities exceeding their designed capacity. Regular operating capacity is 1094 people, with a 'contingency capacity' of 2724. After the interception of four boats in six days carrying 350, the Immigration Department said there were 2960 "irregular maritime arrivals" being held.^[5]

Serco, a private contractor, manages the operations of immigration detention centres on behalf of the Australian government.^[6]

Numbers

As of 30 June 2014 there were 1,077 asylum seekers held in the centre.^[7]

Conditions

There are five different compounds which make up the Christmas Island Immigration Reception and Processing Centre.

Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre (IDC)

The Christmas Island (IDC) is a high security purpose built facility, used to detain adult males, with an operational capacity of 400 and a contingency capacity of 850. In October 2012 there were 975 men in the IDC.^[8] The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) in their reports have expressed concern about the prison-like nature of the Christmas Island IDC and have recommended that it should not be used for accommodation asylum seekers.^{[8][9][10][11]} Security measures taken include: high wire fences, walkways enclosed in cage-like structures, CCTV surveillance, metal reinforced officer booths with perspex glass and metal grills on bedroom windows. The AHRC’s overarching concern regarded overcrowding. At the time of the Commission’s visit Christmas Island IDC was at surge capacity, with up to 20 dorm beds in one room and with activities rooms converted into accommodation rooms.

Within Christmas Island IDC there is the Support Unit: a self-contained, high security unit, where the bedrooms are small cells and all furniture is solid. Additionally CCTV cameras operating in the bedrooms, including the bathroom and toilet area cannot be turned off.^[8] The Commission has serious concerns the CCTV cameras breach the right to privacy as well as the right of people deprived of their liberty to be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person.^[12][13] In the previous 6 months leading up to the Commission’s Report^[8] this unit had not been used on any occasion for a period of more than 48 hours.

Aqua Compound

Aqua Compound is a secure facility with an operational capacity of 22 and a contingency capacity of 400. In October 2012 there were 415 detained within, including 347 men, 33 women and 35 children.^[8] Aqua compound is described by Department of Immigration and Citizenship(DIAC) as an alternative place of detention.^[14] The Commission viewed this as a misnomer^[8] and considered the conditions as harsh. The compound has extremely limited internal recreation areas and no dedicated external recreation area. At the time of the report there was no play equipment provided for children. Aqua Compound is generally used to accommodate people for short periods of time, until appropriate accommodation is found. The Commission considers Aqua Compound “unsuitable for accommodating families and children” and “has serious concerns about the co-location of single adult men and families with children.”^[8] The co-location of different groups of people poses a risk to safety and may lead to a breach of Australia’s obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child(CRC). The families living in Aqua Compound had to share bathrooms but as of July 2014, as a response to the Forgotten Children Report(FCR)^[11] by the AHRC this compound was closed.

Lilac Compound

Lilac Compound, immediately adjacent to Aqua Compound is also a secure facility with an operational capacity of 150 and a contingency capacity of 200. In October 2012 there were 114 detained within, including 101 unaccompanied children and 13 men.^[8] Lilac Compound is also described by DIAC as an alternative place of detention, viewed also by the Commission as a misnomer, with harsh conditions apparent. The compound has a lack of shade and no grass with the area devoted to sport having a dirt surface. In the Commission’s view, “Lilac Compound is unsuitable for accommodating unaccompanied minors.”^[8] As of July 2014, as a response to the FCR^[11] this compound was closed.

Construction Camp Detention Centre

The Construction Camp is a low security facility, with an operational capacity of 200 and a contingency capacity of 310. At the time the commission visited it was primarily used to accommodate family groups, with 485 people detained within including: 179 children, 162 women and 144 men. Again the Commission believes “it is misleading to describe the Construction Camp as an alternative place of detention”, while it is low security people are not free to come and go. It is cramped, with few internal or external recreation spaces.^[8] Two families share a toilet and shower that adjoins their room. The fences of the camp do not keep out crabs and giant centipedes which are prolific on the island.^[15] A volunteer at the camp notes “They have claws strong enough to remove a human toe with ease. Children taking their first steps at 12 months of age would be wandering past these creatures daily.”^[16]

Phosphate Hill Processing Centre

The Phosphate Hill Processing Centre consists of three compounds that accommodate people when they first arrive on Christmas Island. Accommodation is generally within large tents each containing bunk beds for approximately 40 people, which in the Commissions view is only suitable for a very short period. DIAC affirms people are usually only detained here for one or two days while processing is completed.^[8] There is limited open grassy space, some shade and outdoor seating areas and a new playground.^[11]

Health care

Since Christmas Island is a tropical climate this poses serious health risks. Health care services for detainees on Christmas Island are primarily provided by International Health and Medical Services , a private company contracted by DIAC.^[8] The IHMS standard of service requires that no detainee should have to wait longer than 3 business days for an appointment with a general practictioner. At the time of the report IHMS confirmed they met this standard, but detainees in the Christmas Island IDC and in Lilac compound reported they had waited for a consultation for a longer period than this.^[8] Detainees requiring specialist care are transferred off Christmas Island within a relatively short period of time.

Former Christmas Island doctor, John-Paul Sangrgaran spoke out last year over the standard of care in the Detention Centre. Dr Sanggaran said that pregnant woman were being treated with vaccines with a susceptibility to harm their babies and all detainees received malarone as prevention for malaria without individual consultation. Dr Sanggaran noted that he was also aware of detainees losing important medical aids including glasses, hearing aids and parts of a prosthetic leg. He says a lack of medical equipment means unreliable medical assessments, with doctors boasting of doing 90 medical assessments in one eight hour shift.^[17] In 2013 Dr Sanggaran helped draft a 92 page letter, co-signed by 14 other Doctors who had worked on Christmas Island, directed at IHMS highlighting concerns of standards of care. The Immigration Minister at the time Scott Morrison said there was “dispute about matters raised.”^[18] A spokesperson for the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection stated that “ all people in immigration detention, including pregnant women, receive professional and coordinated health care, in line with Australian community standards.”^[17]

In the inquiry for the FCR one paediatrician concluded that “almost all the children on Christmas Island are sick.”^[11] Professor Elliot noted “cramped living conditions intended for temporary use and overcrowding have dire health consequences, enabling rapid spread of infections. Asthma is common, with episodes of wheeze exacerbated by infection, dust and life lived in air-conditioning in a punishing climate.”^[11] The Commission found that at various times children, teenagers, mothers and babies detained on Christmas Island were not in a position to fully enjoy the following rights under the CRC:^[19]

• Article 6(2) the right to enjoy ‘to the maximum extent possible’ the right to development
• Article 24(1) the right to the highest attainable standard of health.

Mental Health Care

Mental health services for detainees are primarily provided by IHMS, as contracted by DIAC. Under DIAC’s policy, IMHS must conduct an initial screening within 72 hours of a detainee’s arrival and an assessment of mental health must be conducted within a week.^[20] At least once a week IHMS run mental health clinics in each of the detention facilities. Detainees can request a consultation at any time; however the Commission met a few individuals having requested consultations either previously, or on multiple occasions who were yet to have a consultation. The Commission found no evidence of this problem being widespread.^[11] Detainees considered at risk of self-harm or suicide, are managed through the Psychological Support Program.^[21] The Commission has found a clear link between a detainee’s mental health and the length of time incarcerated.^[10] An unaccompanied 17 year old detainee states“[m]y hope finished now. I don’t have any hope. I feel I will die in detention.”^[11] Dr Sanggaran claims most detainees are not called their name, but their boat number.^[22]

In the FRC, mental health assessments were conducted on 243 children aged between 5 and 17 years detained in centres in Australia and on Christmas Island from April 2014 to June 2014. It was found “that 34 percent of children had mental health disorders that would be comparable in seriousness to children referred to hospital-based child mental health out-patient services for psychiatric treatment. Less than two percent of children in the Australian population have mental health disorders of this level.”^[23] The former director of mental health within the IHMS Dr Young, stated these results were” very concerning.”^[24] In the period from January 2013 to March 31st 2014 128 children and 89 adults committed self-harm.^[25] In addition to article 6(2), 24(1) not fully being enjoyed under the CRC, children, teenagers, mothers and babies also at various times do not fully enjoy :^[19]

• Article 27(1) the associated right to a standard of living adequate for the child’s, physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development
• Article 19(1) the right to be protected from all forms of physical or mental violence.

Education

At the time of the Commissions visit in 2012, one of the most serious concerns was the lack of access to education provided to children. During the visit the Commission heard a significant number of complaints about access to education. The AHRC in their report concluded “the provision of education to children on Christmas Island is insufficient to meet the requirements of the CRC.”^[19] Breaching international human rights standards, which hold all children have a right to education notwithstanding that they are in an immigration detention centre.^[19] The FCR found that the right of all children to education was denied from July 2013 to July 2014. Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) provided funding to Western Australian Catholic Education Office to establish a school on Christmas Island rectifying this issue.^[11]

Protests

There have been many protests staged over conditions at Christmas Island Immigration Reception and Processing. In 2011 more than 250 detainees hurled rocks at staff and set fire to the accommodation block causing millions of dollars’ worth of damage. They were controlled by tear gas and bean bag rounds, one of the first times bean bag bullets have been used in Australia. The protest was against the conditions and length of time people are held there.^[26] Early 2012, about 375 detainees went on hunger strike, seven stitching their lips together as a cry for freedom and a sign of solidarity for Iranian asylum seeker Reza Barati.^[27] Further unrest occurred in 2014 after mothers concerned about the living conditions at Construction Camp for their babies, had a meeting with immigration officials. The mothers were told ‘you will never be settled in Australia. You will be going to Nauru or Manus Island and that’s the end of the story’.^[28] Following this message it was reported that the mothers started screaming and threatened to set fire to the camp.^[29] DIBP confirmed that following this arrest seven individuals made threats of self-harm and four did self-harm. Ten mothers were placed on ‘guided supportive and monitoring engagement’ under the PSP, requiring 24 hour surveillance by a Serco officer.^[30]

Legal proceedings

On the 26th August 2014, a class action was filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria by law firm Maurice Blackburn on behalf of a six year old girl against the Australian Government, claiming negligence in providing health care for Christmas Island detainees. The girl claims to have developed a dental infection, stammer, separation anxiety and has begun wetting her bed while detained on Christmas Island for over a year.^[31] The claim if successful could provide potential redress for over a thousand asylum seekers.^[32]

See also

• List of Australian immigration detention facilities

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre.

• Immigration Detention Facilities page at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website

Coordinates: 10°28′15.95″S 105°34′32.06″E / 10.4710972°S 105.5755722°E / -10.4710972; 105.5755722