Australia's concentration camps

Issue 

Curtin Immigration Detention Centre

Location: RAAF base outside Derby, in the far north of Western Australia.

Capacity: 1000 people (1200 people being held).

Description: Tents and pre-fabricated huts used as accomodation, surrounded by three-metre fences and desert. Summer temperatures average 42 degrees Celsius.

Actions: Hunger strike in February 2000, with 22 people sewing their lips together.

Port Hedland Immigration Reception and Processing Centre

Location: Far north-west of Western Australia.

Capacity: Over 700 people including women and family groups. Holds unauthorised boat arrivals to Australia.

Description: A converted former single men's quarter previously operated by a mining company. Although having a double perimeter, alarmed fence, plus monitoring by a closed circuit TV system, the camp is considered low security - since the centre's remoteness and isolation serves as the key security function.

Actions: Many protests have occurred at Port Hedland to draw attention to human rights abuses in such a remote area, most recently on May 10.

Perth Immigration Detention Centre

Location: In the precincts of the Perth Airport.

Capacity: Up to 39 people.

Description: Tightly confined former police lock-up facility. Dormitory accommodation.

Actions: Detainees have broken windows to alert the public to their presence. Attempted suicides. Protests to stop deportations.

Woomera Immigration Processing Centre

Location: outside Woomera, in the middle of the South Australian desert.

Capacity: Initially up to 425 detainees, then increased to 1000 (in December 1999), then 1400 (in April 2000).

Description: Woomera is a Department of Defence town, including former desert rocket-firing and nuclear-testing range. The camp is designed for "surge response" and consists of concrete blockwork buildings and prefabricated units. Security features include a 4.2 metre chain mesh perimeter fence with a single "crank" wire ribbon top and perimeter floodlighting. Described by even conservative commentators as a "hellhole".

Actions: Mass breakout in August to protest in the town. Frequent protests since.

Villawood Immigration Detention Centre

Location: Western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales

Capacity: Approximately 330 people in two separate locations. Stage Two holds 255 people. Stage One holds 75. To be expanded to hold 450 people.

Description: Stage One is similar to a medium security prison. The facility is 25 years old.

Actions: Several suicide attempts. Several groups of detainees have escaped from Villawood. Hunger strikes have been held to draw attention to the detainees plight. Large protests have been held at the detention centre.

Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre

Location: North-west suburb of Melbourne, Victoria.

Capacity: Up to 80 people (more than this have been held).

Description: The only detention centre which is purpose-built. Security includes an extensive closed circuit television monitoring system.

Actions: In December 2000, a man trying to resist deportation died after falling from a basketball pole. Refugee rights activists staged a rooftop protest against the detention centre. Weekly solidarity vigils occur at Maribyrnong.

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