Second reply from Scott Morrisons office: Thank you for your email of 26 February 2014 to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, concerning your previous correspondence, bridging visas for illegal maritime arrivals and the Offshore Processing Centre in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The Minister appreciates the time you have taken to bring these matters to his attention and has asked that I reply on his behalf. As discussed in my previous letter to you dated 20 December 2013, consistent with Article 31 of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 protocol, it is not an offense to seek asylum in Australia. That is, under Australian domestic law, seeking asylum is not a crime, and therefore there is no criminal penalty. Expanding on my discussion of bridging visas for illegal maritime arrivals in my previous letter, there have been delays in the granting of further Bridging E visas (BVEs) to those Illegal Maritime Arrivals (IMAs) in the community whose previous BVE had ceased, due to the need to put in place suitable arrangements for the implementation of the Code of Behaviour. The Department is working towards regularising the status of IMAs with ceased BVEs, subject to each person aged 18 years and older having signed the Code of Behaviour and where there are no adverse security, health, identity or significant behavioural issues that present a risk to the community. In relation to your concerns regarding the Offshore Processing Centre in PNG, the Australian government is aware of the many allegations made in the media and trusts that you will be assured the government takes these allegations seriously. You may be aware the Minister has announced an independent inquiry to be commissioned by the department, and that Mr Robert Cornall AO has been engaged for the purpose of that review. The terms of reference of the review have been published on the departments website at immi.gov.au/pub-res/Pages/reviews-and-inquiries/manus-tor-feb2014.aspx. The Department will also be conducting its own internal review into the events and the Royal PNG Constabulary are conducting a full investigation around the events of those evenings and the death of Mr Barati. Transferees receive full health and welfare support at all times, however, in specific response to the disturbance at the Offshore Processing Centre in PNG, the departments health services provider, International Health and Medical Services has deployed an additional nine mental health staff to support the existing mental health team at Manus. The mental health team will respond to the increased mental health demands of transferees and is comprised of mental health nurses, psychologists, and counsellors. The Survivors of Torture and Trauma Assistance and Rehabilitation Service staff are also on Manus providing torture and trauma counselling to transferees, together with Transfield services who have been contracted to provide welfare support services. Whilst noting your comments in relation to the governments policies, I would like to reiterate that the Australian Government takes its humanitarian responsibilities very seriously. Furthermore, the department is committed to ensuring that it is open and accountable and that it makes fair and reasonable decisions ensuring compliance with Australias immigration laws, international obligations, and integrity in decision-making. Thank you for writing on these matters.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 08:01:56 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015