Joint Select Committee on Australia’s Immigration Detention Network

Public hearing - Canberra, Tuesday 16 August 2011

Committee Room 2S3
Parliament House
Canberra

7.00 pm - 10.00 pm

Time

Witness

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Department of Immigration and Citizenship Mr Andrew Metcalfe, Secretary Mr John Moorhouse, Deputy Secretary Dr Wendy Southern, Deputy Secretary Mr Peter Vardos, Deputy Secretary Ms Jackie Wilson, Deputy Secretary Mr Stephen Allen, First Assistant Secretary Mr Ken Douglas, First Assistant Secretary Mr Craig Farrell, First Assistant Secretary Mr Garry Fleming, First Assistant Secretary Mr Robert Illingworth, Acting First Assistant Secretary Mr Greg Kelly, First Assistant Secretary Ms Kate Pope, First Assistant Secretary Mr Stephen Sheehan, First Assistant Secretary Mr Peter Richards, Acting First Assistant Secretary Mr Steve Biddle, Assistant Secretary Mr Ian Deane, Special Counsel Ms Jenny Hardy, Chief Lawyer

1. Immigration Detention Network Administration

Sub-theme – Detention Network Administration

(c) the resources, support and training for employees of Commonwealth agencies and/or their agents or contractors in performing their duties;

(i) the performance and management of Commonwealth agencies and/or their agents or contractors in discharging their responsibilities associated with the detention and processing of irregular maritime arrivals or other persons;

(j) the health, safety and wellbeing of employees of Commonwealth agencies and/or their agents or contractors in performing their duties relating to irregular maritime arrivals or other persons detained in the network;

(m) any issues relating to interaction with States and Territories regarding the detention and processing of irregular maritime arrivals or other persons;

Sub-theme – Managing Incidents

(k) the level, adequacy and effectiveness of reporting incidents and the response to incidents within the immigration detention network, including relevant policies, procedures, authorities and protocols;

(h) the reasons for and nature of riots and disturbances in detention facilities;

(n) the management of good order and public order with respect to the immigration detention network;

Sub-theme – Costs

(o) the total costs of managing and maintaining the immigration detention network and processing irregular maritime arrivals or other detainees;

(p) the expansion of the immigration detention network, including the cost and process adopted to establish new facilities;

2. Detention Policy

(a) any reforms needed to the current Immigration Detention Network in Australia;

(f) the effectiveness and long-term viability of outsourcing immigration detention centre contracts to private providers;

(g) the impact, effectiveness and cost of mandatory detention and any alternatives, including community release;

(l) compliance with the Government’s immigration detention values within the detention network;

3. Arrangements for people while in Immigration Detention

(b) the impact of length of detention and the appropriateness of facilities and services for asylum seekers;

(d) the health, safety and wellbeing of asylum seekers, including specifically children, detained within the detention network;

(e) impact of detention on children and families, and viable alternatives;
 
(q) the length of time detainees have been held in the detention network, the reasons for their length of stay and the impact on the detention network;

4. Asylum Processing

(r) processes for assessment of protection claims made by irregular maritime arrivals and other persons and the impact on the detention network;

For further information, contact:

Mr. Tim Watling
Committee Secretary
Joint Select Committee on Australia’s Immigration Detention Network
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

Phone:	+61 2 6277 3520
Fax:	+61 2 6277 5706
Email:	immigration.detention@aph.gov.au