Australia, Nauru: Government refuses request to inspect Nauru facility

The Australian government rejected a request by Australia's Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission to inspect an Australian-run immigration detention centre on Nauru.  However, Australian Democrats disagree with this assessment.

The request came on the heels of a surge in detainees held in Nauru on behalf of the Australian government, and the announcement by the Nauru government that 82 Sri Lankan detainees will not be allowed out into the community.  The government of Nauru came to that decision when six of the detainees allegedly raped and "indecently assaulted" a local woman.

Australian human rights commissioner Graeme Innes wrote a letter to the government on 30 May, asking for permission to access the offshore processing centre in Nauru.  The Nauru facility has not been visited before by Australian human rights commissioners, since it has not traditionally held large numbers of detainees.  Those being detained are seeking asylum.

The Australian obtained some of the correspondence between the government and HREOC, and published part of Innes's request, which stated, "The larger numbers currently being detained on Nauru raise the possibility of including a visit to Nauru as part of my regular visits to immigration detention facilities."  Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews wrote back declining the request, stating that Australia does not have jurisdiction over offshore facilities like those in Nauru, and therefore he could not support a visit by HREOC to Nauru.

Democrats believe that this reasoning was incorrect and that the human rights commissioner should inspect the Nauru facilities.  One of the senators, Andrew Bartlett, said that some of the refugees have been detained for over a year and that there have been talks of hunger strikes starting in the detention centre.

Please see also:
"Government rejects Nauru inspections"  The Australian  (03 September 2007)
"Australian human rights commissioner denied access to Nauru center"  Pacific Magazine  (03 September 2007)
"Human rights commissioner must have access to Nauru camp -- Australian senator"  Radio New Zealand International  (03 September 2007)