The isolation of the Christmas Island detention centre is the key to soaring mental health problems of staff and detainees. Crikey took the long flight to inspect the facility.
DIAC
Curtin detention centre: 30min drive from Derby, ‘fit in or f-ck off’
Curtin is situated inside an Australian Airforce Base, around 30 minutes drive from Derby, and can only be accessed by prior arrangement with Serco. Crikey paid a visit.
Sideshow Alley: Sideshow Alley: what a lovely pair
This week it’s unanimous — you have united across party lines in your condemnation of the Coalition flirting with the idea of not granting Craig Thomson a pair to attend the birth of his child.
Metcalfe memo to staff: we have to operate in the real world
To follow is the three page memo sent to staff by the secretary of the Department of Immigration, Andrew Metcalfe, the day after the High Court decision…
Christmas Island ‘prison-like’ for children: advocate report
A new report released today has heaped further criticism on the conditions faced by children at the Christmas Island detention centre, with the group behind the research calling for a time limit on the detention of children.
Our shrinking asylum seeker problem
While Australia’s asylum seeker numbers fall, Labor is ensuring it will always lose the debate by remaining wedded to mandatory detention.
Buildings set alight at Villawood, as gov tries to sell new detention centre
Immigration minister Chris Bowen is facing increasing political pressure over the government’s handling of immigration detention today, after nine buildings were burnt down last night by protesting asylum seekers at Villawood Detention Centre.
Nothing to see here: Serco (probably) fined for (possible) breaches
What happens when Serco breaches its multimillion dollar detention centre contract with the Depearment of Immigration and Citizenship? Well, we can’t tell you, because no one has the obligation to say.
Villawood: asbestos still present despite government claims
Sydney’s Villawood detention centre contains asbestos years after the federal government claims it was managed, according to a whistle-blower working at the site.
Two months on, 12 Christmas Island victims laid to rest
A funeral ceremony will be held in Sydney tomorrow for twelve victims of the tragic Christmas Island ship wreck, which claimed the lives of at least 30 people in December last year.
A message to the people of Australia
Just because…
Solitary confinement will cost you extra
“Australia is the only country in the world which charges innocent people the cost of locking them up,” Julian Burnside QC has told Crikey. And solitary confinement is seperately billed, reports Sophie Black.
Tips and rumours
DIAC have raised their student visa risk assessment levels for students from India from three to four commencing 1st September. Four is the highest level, meaning Indian students will have to provide very rigorous documentary evidence to get a visa. Leaving aside how many Indian students must have been skipping out on their visas to force this change, […]
DIAC employee: I can no longer keep silent
I have been a loyal employee for many years. I have welcomed the changes wrought by the Palmer and Comrie reports but I can keep silent no longer, writes a DIAC employee.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Comments, corrections, clarifications, and c*ckups
Bush’s Iraq exit … government ad spending … Dowding on other significant September 11s … evil and seditious websites … Pakistan … The Chaser …
Tips and rumours
An emission mission. Greenhouse emissions from the Commonwealth’s Department of Environment and Water Resources have increased to 637 kilograms per person per year according to its latest annual report (compared to 544 kilograms per person in 2004-05.) That’s a 14 per cent increase in a single year. The Full Annual report is here. More public […]
