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Manus Island committee has never met, immigration department admits Manus Island committee has never met, immigration department admits
(2 months later)
The committee set up to oversee detainee processing times on the Manus Island immigration detention facility has never met, in direct breach of Australia's deal with the Papua New Guinea government, a freedom of information request has revealed.The committee set up to oversee detainee processing times on the Manus Island immigration detention facility has never met, in direct breach of Australia's deal with the Papua New Guinea government, a freedom of information request has revealed.
The joint committee was created, in part, to ensure proper treatment of asylum seekers housed in the centre. It is supposed to include representatives of the PNG and Australian governments and meet once a month. It was the only oversight body set up under a deal forged between the two governments in September and was meant to monitor the treatment of detainees and the length of their stay on Papua New Guinea.The joint committee was created, in part, to ensure proper treatment of asylum seekers housed in the centre. It is supposed to include representatives of the PNG and Australian governments and meet once a month. It was the only oversight body set up under a deal forged between the two governments in September and was meant to monitor the treatment of detainees and the length of their stay on Papua New Guinea.
Responding to a freedom of information request which asked for details of the committee's meetings, the Department for Immigration and Citizenship (Diac) conceded that no documents existed as the committee had never met.Responding to a freedom of information request which asked for details of the committee's meetings, the Department for Immigration and Citizenship (Diac) conceded that no documents existed as the committee had never met.
The revelations are embarrassing for Kevin Rudd and the immigration minister, Tony Burke, who are currently in Papua New Guinea, and understood to be discussing regional processing arrangements on Manus with the PNG government.The revelations are embarrassing for Kevin Rudd and the immigration minister, Tony Burke, who are currently in Papua New Guinea, and understood to be discussing regional processing arrangements on Manus with the PNG government.
The regional processing centre on Manus Island was opened in November last year and currently houses 197 adult male asylum seekers in temporary accommodation. The centre, described recently as a "tent city" by the United Nations high commission on refugees, is an integral part of the government's "no advantage" policy, aimed at deterring irregular maritime arrivals.The regional processing centre on Manus Island was opened in November last year and currently houses 197 adult male asylum seekers in temporary accommodation. The centre, described recently as a "tent city" by the United Nations high commission on refugees, is an integral part of the government's "no advantage" policy, aimed at deterring irregular maritime arrivals.
The failure to convene the committee raises serious questions about the federal government's monitoring of asylum seekers on the island, and follows a damning UNHCR report on the state of immigration detention on Manus. The UNHCR report detailed a number of apparent breaches of international human rights law, and concluded that some terms relating to processing of asylum claims in the memorandum of understanding (MOU) had not been met. The report also welcomed news that processing was due to start in the near future.The failure to convene the committee raises serious questions about the federal government's monitoring of asylum seekers on the island, and follows a damning UNHCR report on the state of immigration detention on Manus. The UNHCR report detailed a number of apparent breaches of international human rights law, and concluded that some terms relating to processing of asylum claims in the memorandum of understanding (MOU) had not been met. The report also welcomed news that processing was due to start in the near future.
The MOU between the federal government and the government of Papua New Guinea sets out the terms for the Manus Island processing centre. It says: "The participants will establish a joint committee with responsibility for the oversight of practical arrangements to implement this MOU including issues relating to the duration of stay of transferees.The MOU between the federal government and the government of Papua New Guinea sets out the terms for the Manus Island processing centre. It says: "The participants will establish a joint committee with responsibility for the oversight of practical arrangements to implement this MOU including issues relating to the duration of stay of transferees.
"The joint committee will meet regularly no less than once monthly and will be co-chaired by mutually agreed representatives of the Australian high commission in Port Morseby and the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Service.""The joint committee will meet regularly no less than once monthly and will be co-chaired by mutually agreed representatives of the Australian high commission in Port Morseby and the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Service."
When asked by the Guardian for all documents relating to joint committee meetings on Manus, Diac responded: "At 29 May 2013 the joint committee for Manus regional processing arrangements had not yet met.When asked by the Guardian for all documents relating to joint committee meetings on Manus, Diac responded: "At 29 May 2013 the joint committee for Manus regional processing arrangements had not yet met.
"An interim joint advisory committee will be established to provide advice and comment to respective governments of Australia and PNG and to inform the scope, membership and role of the permanent joint committee.""An interim joint advisory committee will be established to provide advice and comment to respective governments of Australia and PNG and to inform the scope, membership and role of the permanent joint committee."
When asked if the joint committee or the interim committee had met since 29 May, Diac said it had no further comment to add.When asked if the joint committee or the interim committee had met since 29 May, Diac said it had no further comment to add.
Last month, a spokesman for the Australian high commission in Port Morseby referred all questions about the committee on to the immigration department. He said that Diac was the "Australian government body that is working with relevant PNG government [bodies] on Manus related matters".Last month, a spokesman for the Australian high commission in Port Morseby referred all questions about the committee on to the immigration department. He said that Diac was the "Australian government body that is working with relevant PNG government [bodies] on Manus related matters".
As the joint committee is the only oversight body set up by the federal government for the Manus facility, it is unclear how the government and the immigration department are monitoring events at the facility.As the joint committee is the only oversight body set up by the federal government for the Manus facility, it is unclear how the government and the immigration department are monitoring events at the facility.
Freedom of information requests for incident logs of the processing centre, which are normally created as a way to supervise detention facilities in Australia, have also been denied because the immigration department is not keeping the same records as they do for mainland detention facilities.Freedom of information requests for incident logs of the processing centre, which are normally created as a way to supervise detention facilities in Australia, have also been denied because the immigration department is not keeping the same records as they do for mainland detention facilities.
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