The death of an asylum seeker and injuring of more than 70 others on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea earlier this week represents “a failure of Australian Government policy,” according to the Refugee Council of Australia.
Hundreds of asylum seekers, PNG police and security contractors from the centre were reportedly involved in Monday night’s violence at the detention centre on Manus Island which saw an Iranian asylum seeker killed and 77 more people injured.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Paul Power, CEO of the council, called for “full disclosure” of what happened on the island and said the Australian Government had admitted there was a risk of such a serious incident occurring.
“For many years, the Australian Government has understood the consequences of indefinite, long-term detention on the mental health of asylum seekers,” he said.
“For asylum seekers already traumatised by the persecution or torture they have suffered, and the dangerous journey to find safety and protection, long-term, indefinite detention in a harsh, remote facility creates a highly toxic environment.”
Mr Power said that until asylum seekers are “given pathways to finalise their refugee status”, there will be more serious incidents.
“RCOA again calls for the Australian Government to abandon offshore processing and reintroduce alternatives to detention that provide prompt processing of refugee claims while asylum seekers are supported in the community in Australia.”
Speaking in Darwin yesterday, Scott Morrison, Minister for Immigration, said the Government’s resolve with regard to its policy on asylum seekers was “absolute”.
