Figure 1: Individuals detained in APODs
300
254 260
238
216
182
137
112
92
100
85
78
114
103
111
118
130
102 108
112
100
80
94
112
89
88
63
49
49
Sep-22
Aug-22
Jul-22
Jun-22
May-22
Apr-22
Mar-22
Feb-22
Jan-22
Dec-21
Nov-21
Oct-21
Sep-21
Aug-21
Jul-21
Jun-21
May-21
Apr-21
Mar-21
Feb-21
Jan-21
Dec-20
Nov-20
Oct-20
Sep-20
Aug-20
0
Jul-20
50
33
Dec-22
141
150
Nov-22
200
Oct-22
250
238
Individuals detained in APODs
Figure 1: Data taken from Department of Home Affairs, Immigration Detention and Community Statistics Summaries <https://www.
homeaffairs.gov.au/research-and-statistics/statistics/visa-statistics/live/immigration-detention>.
These numbers are a significant reduction when
compared to the number of people previously
reported as being detained in APODs. For example,
it was reported as at 31 July 2013 that there
were 2,486 people detained in mainland APODs
(including 1,126 children), and a further 2,213
people detained in APODs on Christmas Island
and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands (including 688
children).30
The Commission welcomes the fact that a
significant number of people being held in hotel
APODs were released prior to these inspections
occurring, and that the number of people held in
hotel APODs has continued to decline since the
inspections were completed.
With respect to transitory persons specifically there
were, as at 31 December 2022, 1,122 transitory
persons residing temporarily in Australia, including
those from the Medevac cohort who remain in
Australia. Of these, 8 remained in held detention
while the remainder have been released into
alternative, community-based arrangements
under either a Bridging E visa or residence
One important trend with respect to the use of
hotel APODs has been the shift in the cohort that
is primarily held in these facilities. At the time of
the Commission’s previous inspections in 2018 and
2019 the majority of those detained were part of
the Medevac cohort. The majority of individuals
currently detained in hotel APODs are there
because they have had their visas cancelled under
s 501 of the Migration Act. This raises particular
considerations in terms of both risk assessment
and also the normalisation of the use of hotel
determination.31
APODs as part of the detention network.
The Use of Hotels as Alternative Places of Detention (APODs) • 2023 • 13