Centre specific issues and concerns Proximity to the Lachlan compound and women’s safety The Bryce and Cowan compounds both share a fenceline with the Lachlan compound and Cowan also shares a fenceline with the Community green space. The Lachlan compound is a lower security compound for men requiring separation from the main accommodation due to their vulnerability and the nature of their offending (including sexual offences). The Commission observed that there was no privacy screening across the fenceline, and it was possible to look into the Lachlan compound accommodation from the common outdoor areas and top floor accommodation of both Byrce and Cowan. It would be equally possible for those within Lachlan to observe women in their outdoor areas and some of the shared accommodation areas. The Commission is very concerned that (due to infrastructure limitations at VIDC) the largest group of women in the immigration detention network, many of whom are survivors of male sexual and physical domestic and family violence, are located next to a compound that houses sex offenders. The Commission acknowledges the efforts of detention centre staff who do their best to provide a safe environment in these circumstances. However, the co-location of these compounds is entirely inappropriate and poses a significant risk to the safety and wellbeing of women detained at VIDC. During the Entry Meeting with ABF, Department, Serco and IHMS management, the Commission was told there had been no official reports about harassment of women from the men across the fenceline. However, in subsequent meetings with staff from these agencies, the Commission was told women do experience abuse through the fenceline and that installing privacy screening had been explored. The Commission was told that screening may jeopardise the integrity of the fence and that changes were subject to budgetary limitations. There was however an acknowledgement from several staff that women should be separated from the men in their own accommodation precinct. Several women told the Commission they were very concerned about being located next to the Lachlan compound. When asked about her concerns, one woman stated, ‘[o]ne of the most confronting and worrying aspects is the fence that separates the compound. On the other side are sex offenders and paedophiles. They give drugs through the fence and taunt people’. Another woman speaking of the Lachlan compound asked ‘[w]hy are all the registered sex offenders next to the females compound?’. Another, discussing her discomfort about the lack of privacy said, ‘they are always looking’. Another woman also alleged that, ‘[s]ometimes men pay women to beat each other up’. Commission staff also experienced being called out to by men in the Lachlan compound, while engaging in discussions with women in Cowan. The Department has recorded a steadily growing trend in incidents of sexual assault (including allegations of physical assaults, harassment, unwanted sexual advances, obscene remarks, indecent exposure, and/or sexual gestures) across the entire immigration detention network. For example, 34 in 2020—2021, 35 in 2021—2022 and 40 in 2022—2023.195 Statistics provided by the Department through Senate Estimates reveal that between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024, VIDC had the highest rate of sexual assault incidents (17 incidents) of any facility.196 While these statistics are not specific to women, they are none the less concerning. The Commission acknowledges that it is unlikely that all instances of harassment and unwanted attention may be the subject of a complaint. However, the Commission attempted to obtain further information on the prevalence of abuse women at VIDC were experiencing, by requesting data on complaints trends raised over the last 12 months. The Department advised the Commission that the gender of a complainant is not recorded, and manual cross-referencing with secondary systems would be required for a trends analysis to begin.197 Centre specific issues and concerns 55