Media Release
Sunday May 1 2005 10:30pm WST
For Immediate Release
No Embargoes

"The revelations by Acting Immigration Minister Peter McGauran this weekend that there were other people "unlawfully detained" does not just refer to one or "a few" cases, but to as many as thirty-three individuals "unlawfully detained" by the Australian Immigration Department just during the financial year 2003-04, Senate records show.

"On 17 February - during the additional Estimates hearing - the Immigration Minister answered questions asked on notice by Australian Democrats Senator John Sherry on a previous occasion.

"The Immigration Minister's answers (see below, Table 1a) show that just during the year 2003-04 [Not Unlawful 33] 33 people were released from Immigration Detention because they were on closer scrutiny, "not unlawful".

"This weekend whatever integrity remains within the Department of Immigration comes apart and Project SafeCom now repeats the calls issued by others in the Australian community for the sacking of senior managers in DIMIA such as Mr Bill Farmer - who is in some circles called "Mr Teflon", Ms Philipa Godwin and of Compliance Branch manager Mr Jim Williams. Several heads should roll as a result of these shocking revelations, and it should start with those who signed off on these decisions from their managerial portfolios.

For more information:

Jack H Smit
Project SafeCom Inc.
[phone number posted]

QUESTION TAKEN ON NOTICE
ADDITIONAL ESTIMATES HEARING: 17 February 2004
IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURAL AND INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO

(40) Output 1.3: Enforcement of Immigration Law

Senator Sherry (L&C 41) asked:

• Of those released since the beginning of this financial year, how many have applied for permanent protection and what is their country of origin?

• How many have received permanent protection and what is their country of origin?

• How many have applied for temporary protection and what is their country of origin?

• How many have received temporary protection and what is their country of origin?

• Of those released since 30 June ­ the beginning of the financial year ­ how many have received a bridging visa and what is their country of origin?

• How many individuals have been detained by DIMIA for the last four financial years and what is the breakdown of that figure by detention facility?

Answer:

A breakdown of the number of persons released since the beginning of the 2003-04 financial year is included at ATTACHMENT A.

Also included in that breakdown is information on the applications, grants of visas and country of origin of those persons. The number and location of persons detained in the last four financial years is included at ATTACHMENT B.

ATTACHMENT A

Table 1 shows the number of persons released from immigration detention by visa type (Temporary, Permanent or Bridging Visas).

Table 1b shows the number of persons released from immigration detention who had applied for protection. Subsequent tables included show the country of origin of the persons who applied for protection, who were granted Permanent Protection Visas (PPVs), Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs) and Bridging Visas (BVs).

Notes:

An applicant applies for a protection visa, both temporary and permanent. Whether the visa granted is temporary or permanent is determined by the eligibility criteria and the decision, not the application. o Nationalities with less than 10 releases are not listed separately for privacy reasons.

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Table 1a
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Total Releases from immigration detention by Release

Type - "Other"

By Release Reason - 2003-04 YTD (as at 27/02/2004)

Release - Type - Persons

Cancellation Overturned 30
Criminal Justice Visa 48
***Not Unlawful 33*****
Permanent Substantive Granted 6
Temporary Substantive Granted 2
Transfer - Declared Country 3
Transfer - Into Police Custody 21
Transfer - Other Facility 6
Voluntary Return 4
Total 153

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Table 1
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Total Releases from immigration detention by Release

Type -

2003-04 YTD (as at 27/02/2004)

Release - Type - Persons

PV (Permanent) Granted 13
PV (Temporary) Granted 57
BV Grant 746
Court-ordered release 9
Escaped 4
Removal 3074
Other 153
Total 4056

SOURCE: http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/legcon_ctte/estimates/add_0304/dimia/30-44.pdf