A senior medical expert who oversaw the care of asylum seekers in detention for years has accused the Federal government of deliberately inflicting harm on detainees.
In the most high-profile criticism yet of the government’s asylum policy from inside the system, psychiatrist Dr Peter Young likened the treatment to ‘torture’.
In an exclusive interview with The Guardian Australia, Dr Young said: “If we take the definition of torture to be the deliberate harming of people in order to coerce them into a desired outcome, I think it does fulfil that definition.”
He added that the detention centre environment was ‘inherently toxic’.
“It has characteristics which over time reliably cause harm to people’s mental health. We have very clear evidence that that’s the case,” he said.
Dr Young was director of mental health for International Health and Medical Services, a private contractor that provides medical care to detention centres, for three years until one month ago.
Today, Michelle Grattan reports on the Immigation department’s response to the explosive claims.
By MICHELLE GRATTAN
Immigration department secretary Martin Bowles has said his department was seeking advice about new data on the mental health problems of children in detention, not trying to cover it up.
Bowles was responding to an allegation from psychiatrist Peter Young, former director of mental health services for the private provider International Health and Medical Services that has the immigration detention centre contract.
Young on Thursday told the Human Rights Commission inquiry into children in immigration detention that the department, presented with figures showing the significant mental health problems among child detainees, “reacted with alarm” and asked for the figures to be withdrawn from the reporting.
Bowles, in a reply to questions from The Conversation, said that Young in his evidence had referred to specific new data that had not previously been reported on.
“This was new data that had recently been reported to the department, and that the department was in the process of seeking advice from the department’s Chief Medical Officer and the Independent Health Adviser about.
“This is consistent with normal procedures and entirely appropriate when new data is to be reported on.”
Bowles said he completely rejected the characterising of Young’s evidence “as being indicative of some sort of cover-up by the department”.
The assertion that Immigration had asked its health service provider to not provide reporting on mental health was completely false, he said. The provider regularly reported on a range of health-related matters including mental health matters.
Bowles said it was timely to test the facts on a number of matters raised in the inquiry on Thursday, and he had asked the department to report urgently to him.
The inquiry heard evidence from other doctors who said that the arrangements at Christmas Island were inadequate for dealing with children and that people had their medications taken from them when they arrived, including a three-year-old child with epilepsy who then had fits.
When he received the information he would brief Immigration Minister Scott Morrison, “who is equally determined to ensure any ambiguity around these issues is clarified as soon as possible”.
“Certainly, if there are any incidents of wrongdoing by staff or evidence of systemic issues, those issues will be addressed appropriately.”
The department had been and would continue to be open and transparent in its dealings with the Human Rights Commission throughout its inquiry, he said.
Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult to, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has no relevant affiliations.
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
To read more on recent revelations about the treatment of children in detention, see this post.
Click through these newly-released drawings by children in detention, courtesy of the Australian Human Rights Commission:
Top Comments
Christian? Not in the least.
ALP and LNP in a toxic race to the bottom. Inhumane of both parties.
Its nice to be able to micro analyse a situation and not have to consider the whole picture. I know you speak from the heart with your compassion but govts are elected to run the whole country. If these children are sent to Australia , more will follow, and then more and then the drownings will start again, the people smugglers will get rich again, our borders will be broken again, more desperate asylum seekers will lose their place by the queue jumpers etc. Imagine you are suddenly running Australia. How would you resolve this situation?
How exactly does torturing already vulnerable people who have overwhelmingly experienced trauma in their genuine attempt to escape from brutalisation or persecution (over 80% genuine refugees) resolve the issue of boat arrivals? People are going to attempt to reach Australia regardless - the boats haven't stopped coming, they continue to be at risk of sinking and are just towed away from our shores
There is no queue to jump, and all asylum seekers are desperate - people don't risk their lives like this just to live somewhere nicer, obviously the danger they are escaping from is a bigger threat than a rickety boat ride across the ocean - that says something about how under threat they feel.
In addition to maintaining some humanity and showing some mercy and compassion, ensuring the health, dignity and safety of those seeking asylum from persecution fulfills Australia's obligations under the UN Refugee Convention.
Swift processing of claims with a definite deadline ensures genuine refugees are protected and those that aren't are returned to their country of origin
Keeping children in Immigration detention centres is systemic child abuse by the federal government. Children need a safe and secure environment, and good parenting. That is not what toxic institutionalised living with high anxiety can provide.
NOTHING can justify stealing a child's childhood. These innocent children will never forget what is being done to them- and done in our name. End the detention of innocent men women and children. Seeking asylum is not illegal.