Operation of The Woomera Facility
The Centre was opened in November 1999, with a capacity of 400. This capacity was very quickly exceeded, as the boat arrivals continued. Nursing and administrative staff working there at the time have since complained that facilities were totally inadequate, and that it was impossible to provide proper medical care. Management of the centre has been criticised for not providing adequate training to staff for confrontations. This resulted in psychological problems for staff including post-traumatic stress, marriage breakdowns and in some cases suicide attempts.
Most detainees applied for refugee status, and had no possibility for release until their claim had been finalised. Men, women, and children were detained at The Centre. The highest number of children detained at any one time was 456, out of a total population of 1442, on 1 September 2001. As at 26 December 2003, the average length of detention for children was one year, 8 months, and 11 days. An unaccompanied child refugee had this to say:
- I believe you are nice people, peace seekers, you support unity. If you come to see us behind the fence, think about how you would feel. Are you aware of what happens here? Come and see our life. I wonder whether if the Government of Iran created camp like Woomera and Australians had seen pictures of it, if they would have given people a visa to come to Australia then.
In June 2000 there were two days of protests. Approximately 480 detainees broke out and walked into the township. In August 2000 there were three days of riots and fires. 60–80 detainees were involved, and tear gas and water cannons were used. 32 staff were injured during this riot. In November 2000 there was a hunger strike involving more than 30 detainees, some of whom were force fed in hospital. Throughout 2001 there were repeated riots and confrontations between ACM guards and detainees. Water cannon and tear gas were used.
During 2002 there were a number of riots, hunger strikes, and lip-sewing, which included children. In January 2002 over 200 detainees started a hunger strike. Some threatened suicide in violent ways. Some swallowed poisons including shampoo. Refugee advocates (such as the Woomera Lawyers Group and RASSA), argued that this showed the desperation of detainees. The refugees complained that conditions were harsh, that it took up to three years for their claims to be processed and that processing their claims had been suspended.
There had been similar protests before. This time protests were taken up by the national and international media and by national and international organisations. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees felt Australia should reconsider its policy. Mary Robinson the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights was first denied access to the Woomera IRPC but later the Australian Government yielded to pressure.
Read more about this topic: Woomera Immigration Reception And Processing Centre
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