Centre specific issues and concerns Not suitable for long-term accommodation During the Commission’s 2018 inspection it reported that: The Commission considers that accommodation, living areas and exercise facilities at the PIDC are generally small and cramped, with limited outdoor space. This is particularly true of the women’s compound: the bedrooms retain some of the restrictive character of the former cells; the shared living areas are small, especially the indoor multipurpose room which has no natural light; and there is insufficient space to run around in the ‘passive courtyard’.217 The concerns expressed in 2018 remain the same in 2024. The Commission found the living spaces for women to be cramped and the outdoor area not conducive for sporting activities involving running. By contrast the Area 1 outdoor space was larger and contained a small field which could be used for football and a larger undercover gymnasium. The most concerning aspect about Area 2 is its lack of natural lighting. As set out above, the PIDC is situated in a public space, near the domestic terminal of Perth airport. It is therefore understandable that, in the interest of preserving the privacy of people in detention, bedroom windows are completely blocked out, as are most windows facing the outside of the centre. Nonetheless, the Commission is concerned about the long-term impacts arising from inadequate access to natural lighting within the bedrooms of the women’s (and men’s) accommodation and most other parts of Area 2 (including the multipurpose room and shared corridors). Natural lighting is only available in the undercover gymnasium and outdoor recreation area. In their research on prison design features linked to wellbeing, Engstrom and Ginneken (2022) found that ‘levels of natural and artificial lighting, especially one’s exposure to daylight, are important environmental features that impact psychological wellbeing’.218 They also noted that ‘[m]any scholars have identified the importance of natural light and sunlight in living quarters on wellbeing’.219 The Mandela Rules stipulate at Rule 14(a) that ‘[i]n all places where prisoners are required to live or work: (a) The windows shall be large enough to enable the prisoners to read or work by natural light and shall be so constructed that they can allow the entrance of fresh air whether or not there is artificial ventilation’.220 A similar provision is also found in Rule 18.2(a) of the European Prison Rules.221 The CPT has also affirmed that living accommodation ‘should have access to natural light as well as to artificial lighting which is sufficient for reading purposes’.222 While there are concerns about the limited infrastructure at PIDC, the Commission also recognises that there are many benefits to housing women at the PIDC. As noted by the Commonwealth Ombudsman, ‘it offers many positives that WA’s other facility (YHIDC, 100 km out of Perth) cannot, including accommodation for women, metro-location with proximity to health services and ease of access for visitors’.223 The Commission observed that due to its smaller size and smaller population, staff were able to build better rapport than was possible at other centres. The Department advised the Commission that over the 12-month period between 1 May 2023 and 30 April 2024, no critical incidents had occurred in Area 2, and although 19 major incidents had occurred, most related to accidents, illness and security or water system failures.224 While 6 incidents related to use of force, the Commission was advised that HCA had not been used at all for women in the 12 month period.225 Most women told the Commission that their experience at PIDC has been positive. One woman for example said, ‘[c]ompared to Bandyup [women’s prison], it is much better here’. Another stated ‘[s]upport is very good [here]; [staff have] been very supportive’. The Commission acknowledges the effort of staff at PIDC to foster a positive environment for the women detained at the centre, despite the significant infrastructure limitations. Nonetheless, it was clear that the women who had been detained the longest found the limited space challenging. One woman told the Commission, ‘[we’re] always in each other’s faces. It’s meant to be for short term, not long term’. 68 Not just an afterthoughtThe experience of women in immigration detention