Share and Follow


An immigration detention centre controlled by the Australian Border Force (ABF) is holding detainees in a prohibited cell that lacks a toilet and running water, a watchdog has found.
Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre, about an hour northeast of Perth, also limits support services and family visits, impacting the mental health of some detainees, according to a facility review.
“We identified several areas that are not satisfactory,” Commonwealth National Preventive Mechanism Ombudsman Iain Anderson said on Monday.
The review in June found there was limited access for detainees held in the centre’s high-security area to lines of communication and timely information.
They also don’t have the same access to facilities, programs and activities available to the general population compounds.
“We also had concerns with the use of a soft room being used as part of the high care accommodation,” Anderson said.

“In our view, this soft room meets the definition of a dry cell, the use of which is prohibited in the Immigration Detention Network.”

A dry cell is a prison room that does not have plumbing facilities. The so-called soft room at Yongah Hill lacks the basic amenities required to hold an individual for any length of time, including a toilet, sink and running water.
The watchdog recommended the ABF stop using the room until appropriate safety guidelines, practices, and procedures are developed and implemented.
Improved access to lines of communication, information, programs and activities were also recommended.
About 160 people are detained at Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre, with 29 of these held at the facility for more than six years.
The centre is controlled by the ABF and detention and health services are contracted to Serco Asia Pacific Pty Ltd and International Health and Medical Services.

The Department of Home Affairs, the ABF and the Refugee Council of Australia have been contacted for comment.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Maurene Comey is the daughter of former FBI chief James Comey.

Leading Prosecutor in Epstein and Maxwell Case Dismissed

Maurene Comey, a federal prosecutor in Manhattan and the daughter of former…
SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: These are my 50 greatest Lions players of all time - who claims top spot?

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Revealing My Top 50 Greatest Lions Rugby Players – Who Takes the Number One Spot?

The first memory I have of the British & Irish Lions is…
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, which is scheduled to start on Friday (Saturday AEST), draws tens of thousands of visitors from around Europe.

Blaze Consumes Main Stage at Belgium’s Tomorrowland Music Festival

A huge fire at Belgium’s Tomorrowland music festival site has “severely damaged”…
Donald Trump has announced Coca-Cola is changing its recipe at his request.

Trump Claims Coca-Cola Will Alter Its Recipe Following His Request

President Donald Trump said Coca-Cola has agreed to use real cane sugar…

UK Plans to Reduce Voting Age to 16 in Historic Reform

The United Kingdom will now give 16 and 17-year-olds the right to…
Adam Sutton was killed when he was struck by a distracted driver.

“Driver’s Negligence: Sent 44 Snapchats Before Crash That Resulted in Young Dad’s Death”

Peter Agius sent 44 Snapchats while driving just 12 kilometres, at 100km/h…
Pia Whitesell shares major news - four years after marrying multimillionaire Patrick Whitesell: 'I'm excited'

Pia Whitesell Announces Exciting Update Four Years After Marrying Millionaire Patrick Whitesell

<!– <!– <!– <!– <!– <!– Pia Whitesell has announced her first paid…

Tour de France: Abrahamsen Triumphs in Stage 11, Pogacar Takes a Fall, and Protester Against Israel Detained

Norway’s Jonas Abrahamsen has won stage 11 of the Tour de France…