Refugees
Inspecting the razor wire: My visit to Villawood Detention Centre
Villawood Detention Centre is one of those addresses you are extremely happy to leave after an afternoon visit. The cold outdoor visitors meeting area holds little to diminish the bleakness of the place. Despite the sadness evident in the demeanour of those detainees surviving inside, their generosity of spirit to each other and their visitors is quite remarkable.
There are young people in Villawood who have spent three, four or more years in various detention camps during the most formative years of their lives. It is incomprehensible to me, how our government decision makers on issues of immigration, could justify incarcerating young people whose survival depends on diverse social interactions, formal education, the nurturing of a family and freedom to be young at heart.
I spoke to several detainees during my visit and was shocked to learn that depression, anxiety, fear and loneliness are so prevalent to be the norm. Sadly, the only solution provided by the detention centre management is to provide detainees with heavy medication that would simply serve to mask these conditions rather than address the causes.
As I went on a week day there were few children in the visitors area as recent policy allows for some children to go to local schools. However, visitors who took their children were restricted to the muddy visitors area for a kids play ground. The image that looms most notably is the razor wire that surrounds the perimeter fences and how harsh and threatening it looks. This contrasts strongly with the pleasant relief of visitors bringing fresh food and companionship during visiting time.
It was a privilege to meet these detainees and hear their stories. I will continue with my work to act as an advocate for their release and for the systemic reforms that will prevent such an injustice affecting future asylum seekers.
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This Government has treated asylum seekers and refugees disgracefully. Shamefully, people can be placed in detention camps in the middle of the desert indefinitely or face forcible repatriation and deportation, ongoing uncertainty from temporary protection visas (TPVs) and inadequate service provision for people that manage to be found to be genuine refugees.
I believe the role of The Greens is to uphold the expectations of those who look to us for clear, honest language that reflects the integrity of our policies. At a time when misinformation and outright deceptions are sadly too common, we should present unambiguous support for integrity, honesty and compassion in every aspect of our work.
The Australian Greens propose the following framework for processing asylum seekers who arrive without a valid visa:
- asylum seekers who arrive without a valid visa are housed in publicly owned and managed open reception centres that are accountable pursuant to Federal legislation and where entry and exit are unrestricted;
- medical tests are completed and medical advice provided if necessary;
- security checks are made with Interpol and other security agencies;
- provided these medical and security checks are satisfied (see below) or after 14 days has passed, whichever occurs first, the person is granted an Asylum Application Visa (AAV) and assisted without delay to move into the community;
- the AAV entitles the person to travel, work and have access to ongoing educational and medical services anywhere within Australia while their claims for asylum are assessed;
- where medical checks indicate there is a significant risk to the person or the community, the person would receive appropriate medical treatment and be granted an AAV provided they comply with reasonable directions from medical practitioners;
- an AAV could be denied if security checks demonstrate the person poses a serious criminal threat to the Australian community or if the person has not remained housed in the reception centre while the medical and security checks were completed;
- refusal to grant an AAV would be reviewable at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal;
- those people refused an AAV would be housed in separate, appropriate, publicly owned and managed facilities close to urban areas; and
- where refugee status is refused and the person cannot be repatriated the AAV will remain in force until repatriation occurs.
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