Effective Access for Immigration Detention Monitoring

Note: This report has been prepared jointly with the Australian Government

The Department of Immigration and Border Protections (DIBP) continues to facilitate the ongoing access for ARC to all Immigration Detention Facilities, and increased access to Alternative Places Of Detention (APOD) in Western Australia, Victoria, Queensland and Northern Territory. Given the current arrangements are suitable to both parties, it is agreed that the review of the current Memorandum of Understanding should be postponed.

There is increased positive engagement with the Department’s International Division and ARC, regarding the situation of asylum seekers and refugees transferred to Australia from Nauru and Manus and the US resettlement agreement. The Department will continue to engage with ARC to keep them informed on the progress of this agreement.

The Department continues to facilitate regular high level meetings between ARC and key departmental Senior Executives to discuss issues of concern and issues arising in ARC reports.

ARC was invited by DIBP to review a number of key Detention Standard Operating Procedures. ARC provided useful feedback. A concern raised by ARC was that they had not been provided opportunity to consult on a range of other key policies and procedures, in particular, the Child Safeguarding Framework and Detention Capability Framework before finalisation.  The Department briefed ARC as soon as it was able within probity and policy guidelines. The Department continues to look for varied opportunities to consult with ARC on significant policy and procedural shifts.