1 | Introduction
Over the past thirty years, the Australian Human Rights Commission
(Commission) has undertaken national inquiries into immigration detention,1
thematic reports to highlight particular issues,2 and periodic monitoring of
detention facilities across the country.3 The Commission has consistently
expressed a range of concerns about aspects of Australia’s immigration
detention system and its compliance with Australia’s international obligations.4
This report contains an overview of key observations and concerns arising from
the Commission’s inspection of the Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre
(YHIDC) in May 2023. The report reflects conditions as they were at the time of
the inspection.
The Commission acknowledges the contributions made by Mr Kieran Artelaris,
Inspections and Research Officer with the Western Australian Office of the
Inspector of Custodial Services (WA OICS) and Dr Emma Crampin, Deputy
Chief Psychiatrist with the Western Australian Office of the Chief Psychiatrist,
who respectively assisted with this inspection as an independent custodial
environment consultant and health consultant. Mr Artelaris and Dr Crampin
participated in the inspection visits and interviews alongside Commission staff
and provided advice on issues relating to security management and training,
health care and other medical issues concerning people in immigration
detention. The Commission also acknowledges the civil society organisations
that provided submissions prior to the inspection, and all of the individual staff
at the Commission who assisted with these inspections.
The Commission also acknowledges the assistance provided by the Department
of Home Affairs (Department), and Australian Border Force (ABF) in facilitating
the Commission’s inspection. The Commission team was assisted during the
inspection by staff from the Department, ABF and detention service providers,
and we are grateful for the assistance that was provided.
In accordance with the usual practice, the Commission provided a copy of
this report to the Department on 2 February 2024 to provide an opportunity
for response to the Commission’s findings and recommendations prior to
publication. The response from the Department was received on 8 April 2024
and has been published alongside this report.
Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre Inspection Report • 2024 • 9