Refugee Advocacy Network Media Release: July 28th 2011 “Australia’s detention centres are in crisis”, said Refugee Advocacy Network spokesperson Pamela Curr, as the protests by asylum seekers in detention centres around Australia are becoming more desperate and more frequent. One of the asylum seekers on the roof of the Darwin detention centre has already lost consciousness.
Curr says that many people seeking asylum have been detained for up to 22 months.
“Many are still waiting for decisions on their cases and for security checks. Men in Christmas Island, Darwin and Scherger detention centres are protesting for two reasons- the length of time taken to process their cases and the unfairness of this process,” she said.
While the overall average of positive decisions for Hazaras at the review stage (IMR) is 78.6%, some reviewers are refusing all or more than 90% of their cases. This means that when they review 10 cases, some will refuse all or allow only one positive decision.
“This is clearly unfair and the men feel it,” said Curr. “Some men have told us that when they hear the name of their reviewer they say – I am finished, others weep because they know that they have no chance.”
People are waiting up to 12 months for their primary decision (RSA). Then waiting another six to seven months for a review (IMR). Then waiting again for the result. In this way there are hundreds of people in detention waiting while their liberty is denied. We believe that this is deliberately done to deter others from coming.
Curr stated “This government knows what happens to already traumatised people when they are locked up for years. In 2005, the Howard government had to release hundreds of people to psychiatric hospitals in three states because of their mental breakdown. What is happening now is a repeat of the 2005/2006 debacle when the Howard government had to release people from detention to save their lives.
“There is a solution- release people into the community while their claims are processed. This has already been done with the families, children and unaccompanied minors. No one escaped or ran away. This has saved lives and money as well. We ask the government to do it now before more lives are lost in detention.”