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Detention Stats

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship has publicly stated they will provide continually up to date statistics. This is not always the case, check here. As of 30 November 2011:

975 children (aged under 18 years) in immigration detention. Of these;
534 were detained in the community under residence determinations.
441 are in secure locked facilities comprising and 326 in alternative places of detention (119 of these on Christmas Island)

Here is a map of where detention centres are located. Here is an explanation of the different forms of detention and why we state there is nothing 'alternate' about a so called 'alternative place of detention'.

Unaccompanied Minors

Unaccompanied minors (UAMs) are people under the age of 18 who are not being cared for by a parent. Under the Immigration (Guardian of Children) Act 1946 (IGOC Act) children who arrive in Australia without a parent are appointed a legal guardian. That person is the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Read more

Reports and Analysis

Long-Term Health Costs of Extended Mandatory Detention of Asylum Seekers. Yarra Institute, October 2011.

Should Parliament ulitimately decide whether asylum seekers may be sent to a foreign country? August 2011

Elibritt Karlsen briefly examines some of the issues relating to ministerial responsibility for extra-territorial processing of asylum claims. The paper outlines the Australian Greens recent initiatives to open Ministerial declarations to scrutiny by Parliament as a whole. It also notes the recent High Court challenge directed at the heart of this issue.

A New Approach. Breaking the Stalemate on Refugees and Asylum Seekers. August 2011.

ChilOut Chair, Kate Gauthier, has contributed to a major report in conjunction with former Secretary of the Department of Immigration, John Menadue, and DIAC careerist, Arja Keski-Nummi.

The report first and foremost calls for a reframing of the debate. They recommend establishing:

- An independent and professional commission, with a small secretariat and budget, to facilitate informed public debate.

- An independent Refugee, Asylum and Humanitarian Assistance Authority to administer the policy and programs that fall under Australia's offshore and onshore humanitarian programs underpinned by legislation that clearly articulates the values, principles and objectives of Australia's refugee and asylum policies.

A New Approach: Breaking the stalemate on refugees and asylum seekers September 2011

ChilOut Chair, Kate Gauthier has contributed to a major report strongly supporting calls to reframe the debate around refugee issues.

No Place for Children: Immigration Detention on Christmas Island June 2011

A ChilOut report prepared following our April 2011 to Christmas Island which, despite much forward planning and approvals gained, was a far more restricted a visit than we had envisaged. The report addresses ChilOut's policy concerns and the current international breaches Australia is engaged in by treating asylum seeker children the way it currently does. Also presented are details of daily life for children detained on Christmas Island, such as a 4year old boy excluded from playgroup as he is deemed to old, but there is no alternate group for him to take part in

Hugo Report on Economic, Social and Civic Contributions of First and Second Generation Humanitarian Entrants May 2011

It seems that we are generally accepting of refugees - it's asylum seekers that we have problems with. It shouldn't be too surprising that our tolerance of refugees is high given that 700,000 of us are refugees or descended from them. A major report into the population, productivity and participation of humanitarian entrants, commissioned by DIAC, now provides an evidential basis for this sentiment.

Dip into the qualitative and quantitative data contained in the Hugo Report into Economic, social and civic contributions of first and second generation humanitarian entrants for an appreciation of the social and economic benefits they bring to our communities. It tells us:

"Humanitarian entrants help meet labour shortages, including in low skill and low paid occupations. They display strong entrepreneurial qualities compared with other migrant groups, with a higher than average proportion engaging in small and medium business enterprises.

Humanitarian settlers also benefit the wider community through developing and maintaining economic linkages with their origin countries. In addition, they make significant contributions through volunteering in both the wider community and within their own community groups."

Report on Conditions in Detention. Amnesty International Australia, October 2010.

Darwin Asti APOD: The site was extremely overcrowded with families living in very close proximity to each other. Despite the extreme heat, there is practically no shade or areas where children can play. There is no grass area either as the site is all concreted. There is no suitable space for activities to be conducted. Many of the women Al spoke to feared they were losing thier minds from boredom and anxiety at the uncertainty of their situation. The women told Al that nearly all of them were on anti depressant and sleeping medication.

Immigration Detention on Christmas Island. Australian Human Rights Commission, October 2010.

While Children are no longer held in high security immigration detention centres, they are still detained in lower security detention facilities. On Christmas island, they are detained in the Construction Camp immigration detention facility. While DIAC categorises teh Construction Camp as 'alternative temporary detention in the community', the commission reiterates it's view that this is misleading.

Temporary Protection: Permanent Uncertainty July 2003

Greg Marston reports TPVs mean more children undertake risky journeys as family reunions are not allowed. Lives continue to be lived in limbo. Employers discriminate against TPV holders. Depression abounds and mental health deteriorates. We know all this. These are the reasons the ALP abandoned the TPV regime and yet it is again being bandied about as a panacea.