Re-opening of Baxter and Curtin Detention Centre

Refugee Groups Condemn re-opening of Baxter and Curtin Detention Centre as THE WORST OF THE WORST

Refugee Groups Condemn re-opening of Baxter and Curtin Detention Centre as THE WORST OF THE WORST

Refugee Groups Condemn re-opening of Baxter and Curtin Detention Centre as THE WORST OF THE WORST

Refugee groups today condemned the Immigration Minster's decision to re-open Curtin detention centre to house detainees whose visa applications have been suspended.

"Given the history of Curtin and the length of time that detainees will be condemned to he held in Curtin, the Minister's decision amounts to criminal human rights abuse," said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.

"It is well established that after six months the mental health of detainees is at risk of serious decline. Afghan asylum seekers face at least six months in Curtin before their applications will even begin to be processed. Even if the suspension period is not extended, these people face up at least ten months before getting an answer to their refugee application. It is arbitrary detention in the most remote desert location.

"Australian of the Year, Professor Patrick McGorry warned that detention centres were factories for mental illness, yet the Minister is about to open the worst of the worst.

"It is calculated decision to isolate a particularly vulnerable group of people and keep them away from public scrutiny. We also remind Chris Evans that Sri Lankan and Afghan asylum seekers are people, not a 'case load'.

"Two weeks ago, Chris Evans said the Rudd government would not go down the Howard road to abuse of refugees. Now even his language is becoming 'Ruddockesque' in the attempt to hide the reality that Labor is mimicking Howard's treatment of refugees.'

"Labor is making a mockery of its own policy announced in mid 2008, that detention would be a last resort. The announcement that unaccompanied minors will go to Port Augusta - presumably the so-called residential housing associated with Baxter - also put the lie to the claim that the Rudd Labor government would not hold children in detention," said Rintoul.

"In 2004, Chilout, an advocacy group dedicated to getting children out of detention described Port Augusta residential housing project: "It is a detention centre, with a less hostile environment than Baxter, but still with guards, security cameras and fences."

"Re-opening Howard's sites of abuse is no solution to the problems of Christmas Island. There is no justification for suspending asylum claims, Asylum seekers need more processing, more quickly, not more hell-holes."

ENDS

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