Commonwealth Ombudsman Allan Asher will investigate whether police and immigration contractors used too much force when responding to protests on Christmas Island last month.
He is also considering beginning an investigation into whether the detention centres that hold asylum seekers are appropriate, and whether officials have proper programs to look after people at risk of suicide.
"As long as there are families with children, unaccompanied minors and other vulnerable people in immigration detention facilities on Christmas Island, and as long as there are risks to their health and well-being as a consequence of inadequate services, I consider that [the Department of Immigration and Citizenship] is in breach of the Australian Government's own detention values,'' he said.
Police used tear gas and bean-bag rounds to try to control about 200 detainees rioting at the Christmas Island detention centre last month.
''The complex interplay of over-crowding, stretched resources and delays in the processing of asylum claims is likely to have been the root cause of seven days of detainee protests. A week punctuated, at times, by violent riots and burning buildings, and which led to the rapid deployment of Australian Federal Police reinforcements from the mainland, complete with tear gas and other ammunition to quell the violence,'' Mr Asher said.
''It had been manifestly obvious in the months and years building up to this event that all was not well on Christmas Island.''
Mr Asher said he would examine whether the department and service provider Serco demonstrated due process and considered decision-making during the incident.
''My principal concern with Christmas Island, as with all of Australia's detention facilities, is to ensure that in using its exceptional powers, DIAC upholds the highest standards of public administration and accountability,'' he said.
He said he would particularly investigate cross-agency coordination, taking into consideration training, management and oversight, information systems, quality assurance and controls over the use of their powers.
''Most critically, I am concerned about the seemingly high incidence of self-harm and the high number of apparent suicides within the immigration detention network when compared to previous periods of high numbers in immigration detention and to other detention environments such as Australian prisons and police custody facilities,'' he said.
''The vast majority of the people currently in immigration detention will be found to be owed Australia's protection and, as a result of their detention, may be starting down the path to citizenship with a significant burden of mental health issues.''
Source: The Canberra Times
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