The Commonwealth Ombudsman has issued a statement summarising his findings after investigating the management of COVID-19 risks in Australia’s immigration detention facilities.
The Ombudsman, Michael Manthorpe said his Office had been actively monitoring the Department of Home Affairs’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic including its infection control measures across the immigration detention network in relation to the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) Guidelines.
“The Department has implemented strategies across the network which are informed by the CDNA Guidelines for the Prevention, Control and Public Health Management of COVID-19 Outbreaks in Correctional and Detention Facilities in Australia,” Mr Manthorpe said.
“The Office’s monitoring of immigration detention facilities at this time is particularly focussed on how these guidelines are adhered to by facilities in practice,” he said.
“We are also investigating a number of individual complaints from detainees.”
Mr Manthorpe said his Office was “broadly satisfied” with the Department’s implementation of site-level strategies to prevent, and respond to COVID-19 and its adherence to the CDNA Guidelines.
“We particularly caution against complacency in the application of the CDNA Guidelines,” he said.
“Notwithstanding the positive developments in Australia’s health situation, the threat posed by COVD-19 remains and is likely to do so for some time, particularly in closed environments.”
Mr Manthorpe made three recommendations relating to temperature checks of people entering and exiting facilities; an assurance program to monitor staff’s and contracted providers’ compliance with Outbreak Management Plans; and reducing the number of people held in immigration detention.
The Ombudsman’s seven-page statement can be accessed at this PS News link.
