Immigration slams 'poor' Manus centre

THE Immigration Department has made a scathing assessment of its own temporary processing facility on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island, calling for it to be urgently replaced with a permanent site, as a second asylum-seeker vessel was detected off the mainland.

In a submission to a parliamentary inquiry established by Special Minister of State Gary Gray to determine what infrastructure upgrades are necessary on the reopened Pacific Solution site, the current facilities on Manus Island were heavily criticised.

"The temporary centre is cramped and recreation facilities are limited and in a poor state," the departmental submission reads.

"There is no reliable power supply, limited potable water to the facility and the buildings and tents have a very short life expectancy."

It was also slammed for being located in a low-lying swampy area that encourages mosquito breeding.

Immigration officials have raised concerns that despite pedestal fans being provided in tents, temperatures are soaring to 38C, triggering behavioural problems among the detainees.

They fear the conditions in the centre will "increase risk of self-harm (and) mental health problems" and have called on Labor to replace the temporary site with "urgency".

The highly critical description of the conditions on Manus came as a second asylum-seeker boat was detected about 28 nautical miles off the West Australian coastline, a week after 66 Sri Lankans sailed into Geraldton harbour on a donated fishing vessel.

Customs and Border Protection yesterday confirmed that a WA police boat helped to intercept the asylum-seeker vessel, which was carrying 72 passengers.

Several of the passengers were transferred to Broome for medical treatment, while the remainder were sent to Christmas Island for health and security checks.

The boat was detected by a Customs and Border Protection surveillance plane on Sunday, and boarded by authorities from HMAS Ararat about 28.5NM -- just over 50km -- northwest of Broome.

Acting opposition immigration spokesman Michael Keenan attacked Labor for delaying legislation to excise the mainland from the migration zone, saying this was the second boat in less than two weeks to make it close to the mainland.

"This is yet another embarrassment for the government in a week that has already seen an asylum boat make it all the way to Geraldton undetected and another vessel arrive in Flying Fish Cove on Christmas Island undetected," he said.

The majority of the 66 asylum-seekers aboard the Deutsche Bank fishing boat which sailed into Geraldton harbour last Tuesday continue to be interviewed at the Christmas Island detention centre.

Source  http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/immigration/immigration-slams-poor-manus-centre/story-fn9hm1gu-1226621094676

Australian employers, visa holders and applicants warned about migration changes

Immigration officials are keen that everyone from employers, visa holders and those considering moving to Australia should be aware of skilled migration options and the new laws and penalties that have been introduced recently.

Be visa aware, that is the message that is being sent out as outreach officers visit a series of locations to explain the significant changes to the employer sponsored skilled visa programme which were introduced in July of last year. The main changes are centred around SkillSelect, an online service that connects Australian employers with potential skilled migrants and streamlines the pathway to permanent residence for people already working in Australia on temporary skilled 457 visas.

Officials from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) believe it is important to educate businesses about their responsibility for checking to ensure that workers they employ are allowed to work in Australia. It has information on new laws recently passed by Parliament which introduce civil penalties and infringement notices for employers or suppliers of illegal workers.

Officials are vociferous in tracking down offenders and immigration compliance officers have, in the last few says, located 14 illegal workers and visa over stayers in a series of compliance operations in the New South Wales Illawarra and Southern Highlands regions. A total of nine men and five women were discovered to be unlawful. They indicate the range of different countries where immigrants come from with the group comprising of five Malaysians, six from China, and one each from Italy, Thailand and Vietnam. Eight of them were detained and transferred to Villawood Immigration Detention Centre, where they will be removed from Australia at the earliest opportunity and six were granted bridging visas with strict conditions.

A number of the operations were conducted in response to community information provided to the department’s telephone dob-in line. While information was also received through other sources investigations into the circumstances of the employment of the illegal workers are still continuing.

    Quote from AustraliaForum.com : “14-02-2013 – Compliance officers from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) today located 11 illegal workers at a residential property in the northern Perth suburb of Girrawheen.”

Meanwhile, in a separate operation at private premises in the Sydney suburb of Canley Vale immigration compliance officers located five unlawful non-citizens. Two couples, from Malaysia and China, were detained and transferred to Villawood Immigration Detention Centre pending their removal from Australia while a Malaysian woman was granted a temporary bridging visa. ‘Employers should be aware it is a criminal offence to knowingly or recklessly allow a person to work illegally or to refer an illegal worker for work,’ a DIAC spokesman said.

It wants employers to be aware that the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service is available for them to check the relevant identification details of prospective employees, with their consent, to quickly confirm if they are eligible to work in Australia. Employers convicted under Commonwealth legislation of employing illegal workers face fines of up to $20,400 and two years’ imprisonment while companies face fines of up to $102,000 per illegal worker.

According to DIAC figures in 2011/2012 almost 2000 people were caught working illegally in Australia. ‘This activity continued across the country this financial year with a further 1,029 illegal workers found to December 31,’ the spokesman explained.

Source  http://www.australiaforum.com/information/immigration/australian-employers-visa-holders-and-applicants-warned-about-migration-changes.html

Australia's immigration processes "procedurally flawed"

Refugee activists say they are horrified by the case of a Chinese man, who has sought protection in Australia after allegedly escaping torture in his homeland.

The Falun Gong practitioner's case was backed by the United Nations, but the Australian Government has not accepted the findings.

Correspondent: Karen Barlow

Speakers: Mr Chen, Falungong practitioner and asylum-seeker; Veronica Spasaro, refugee advocate, Balmain for Refugees

BARLOW: (sfx Chinese) The scars are fading, but the man who wishes to be known as Mr Chen can't forget.

CHEN: I was beaten while they handcuffed me by the bars.

BARLOW: Mr Chen practices Falun Gong.. the spiritual discipline outlawed in China since 1999. Its strong following, independence from the state and incitement of so-called disturbances were seen as a threat to the communist party.

CHEN: When I was detained by police I was beaten by the police with an electric stakes and fists and I was also burnt by the cigarettes.

BARLOW: In one case, Mr Chen says he was detained for 16 days.. and tortured every day and told to renounce his beliefs and give up the names of those who practiced Falun Gong with him. He says his home was ransacked, his belongings taken and he was beaten heavily..

CHEN: After I was released it took me about one month to recover. My whole body was really beaten up.

BARLOW: Mr Chen fled China in 2004 and came to Australia for protection (CUT: in 2004), leaving his wife and two sons. There's a grandson he has never seen. Supporters say a negligent migration agent mishandled his case. Mr Chen was ordered to a hearing, but the migration agent never told him to attend.

Veronica Spasaro is from Balmain for Refugees

SPASARO: In fact, that meant by the time he had exhausted all procedures in the domestic processes, he'd never actually been interviewed in person about his claim or his evidence

BARLOW: This led to an eight-year legal limbo and fears of deportation.

SPASARO: We'd exhausted every avenue.. we were convinced there was a grave injustice about to be made.

BARLOW: Mr Chen 's case was taken to the United Nations' Committee Against Torture in New York, which ruled last November that deportation would "Breach article 3 of the UN convention against torture.. " and that Australia's immigration processes were "..procedurally flawed."

The Australian Government response was to.."Not necessarily accept the conclusion" of the UN committee.

Veronica Spasaro spearheaded the UN effort on Mr Chen's behalf. .

SPASARO: When we read that response we were really appalled and horrified, actually.

BARLOW: Mr Chen's supporters say he suffers from trauma not only from torture and persecution in China... but from the eight year process of trying to stay in Australia.

It appears he now has to restart the process for protection."

THE Australian Permanent Mission to the UN wrote that the government was considering whether Mr Chen could "make a further application for a protection visa."

Veronica Spasaro says the response is opened ended.

SPASARO: The horrifying part really is, the possibility that he may in fact be given the opportunity to re-apply for protection, and of course if the last opportunity has taken eight years to play out, the next opportunity could also take eight years potentially.

BARLOW: A spokeswoman for the Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor says Mr Chen's claims and the findings of the United Nations Committee Against Torture will be given due consideration." Mr Chen just wants to get on with his life, which he says he won't have if he is returned to China.

CHEN: A lot of Falun Gong practitioners are tortured to death so this may happen to me as well.

BARLOW: He is also very concerned about his family back home.. he says he has been informed on by fellow detainees in the Villawood detention Centre in Sydney.

CHEN: Some deported back to China already.. they told the police I was still practising Falun Gong. The police threatened my family that I should go back to China soon, quickly . And last year in November my wife was detained for about 4 to 5 days.

BARLOW: Mr Chen's been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

CHEN: I have no choice. I am afraid of going back to China.

BARLOW: So it is life in limbo.. for Mr Chen.

Source  http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/asia-pacific/australias-immigration-processes-procedurally-flawed/1116572

Australian Immigration Reviews Lead to Improve Settlement Services

Mr Bowen and Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Senator Kate Lundy released the Review of Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS) Performance Measures and Contract Management on December 13, 2011.

The review, which was appointed to David Richmond AO by the Minister in May 2011, focused on the adequacy of performance measures and contract management processes of HSS program under the previous Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy (IHSS) program.

In April this year, the Gillard Government replaced the IHSS program with HSS program and introduced a comprehensive set of changes to strengthen and improve the settlement framework.

"The review by Mr Richmond found that although the HSS is generally well managed, improvements can be made in certain areas such as contract performance management, reporting and quality control," Mr Bowen said.

"The government has accepted the recommendations of the review and I have asked my department to establish an implementation taskforce to provide regular progress reports."

"Work to improve and review settlement services is ongoing and we have already inspected the standard of more than 400 properties, and as a result, relocated four families to more appropriate accommodation."

The HSS program provides initial settlement support, which is tailored to individual needs, including the specific needs of young people. HSS also endeavours to strengthen the ability of humanitarian clients to participate in the economic and social life of Australia and to provide newcomers to Australia with the skills and knowledge to independently access services.

The Review of Humanitarian Settlement Services found that:

* it's necessary to have more proactive contract management and better reporting;

* strategies were required to improve performance measures supporting the program;

* better safeguards were needed on accommodation standards, particularly in stressed urban Australian housing markets;

* the quality assurance framework needed revising, and reporting and dialogue between the department and service delivery networks needed strengthening and

* service providers could improve their relationships with clients "on the ground".

According to Senator Lundy, under the HSS program, Australian government had strengthened support services of humanitarian settlement across Australia and around major regional centres.

"The review supported the improvements to our settlement services introduced by the government earlier this year, but highlighted the ongoing management challenges associated with successful settlement," Senator Lundy said.

"Australia's settlement services are now more comprehensive and robust than they have been in the past, but we remain focused on addressing emerging issues to ensure better settlement outcomes for new arrivals and the Australian community."

"As a government we are committed to delivering strong settlement support to help some of the community's most vulnerable people start a new life in Australia and become participating members of the community."

"I would like to thank Mr Richmond and others who have provided valuable input into the review, as well as the professional and committed service providers who deliver settlement services to newly arrived refugees."

If you are interested in Australian visas , contact Migration Services Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try its visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to Australia.

Source http://www.migrationexpert.com/australia/visa/australian_immigration_news/2011/dec/0/563/australian_immigration_reviews_lead_to_improve_settlement_services

10 teenagers missing from community detention

TEN Vietnamese teenagers under community detention have gone missing.

A Department of Immigration spokeswoman said the unaccompanied minors are all aged between 15 and 18.

Nine were in community detention in Victoria while the remaining teenager has gone missing from WA.

"The Department of Immigration can confirm 10 children have absconded," the spokeswoman said.

She said the Red Cross was the contracted service provider for community detention.

Seven other unaccompanied minors are in community detention in Victoria and WA.

There are fears that the teenagers may have been trafficked.

Liberal Senate Leader Eric Abetz said the Labor government must explain how this happened.

"Why is their system failing yet again?" Senator Abetz said today in Canberra.

Australian Greens senator Bob Brown said the news was worrying.

"It's very concerning," he said.

Senior Labor left figure senator Doug Cameron said the incident should not be a reflection on the merits of community detention.

"What I've seen of community detention in Australia and around the world is that it works, it's cost-effective and the most humane way to deal with refugees," he said.

A spokeswoman for the Red Cross said the charity was not responsible for the security of asylum seekers but was involved in providing housing, support services and English lessons.

She said the security of asylum seekers in detention was a matter for the Department.

Source http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/teenagers-missing-from-community-detention/story-e6frf7jx-1226169427969

Migration agents suspected over sex slavery

AUSTRALIAN immigration officials suspected of involvement in sexual slavery, gangs and illegal brothels operating government keep their licenses despite being involved in police investigations.

Age was found complaints and information in the police documents revealing the alleged involvement of two licensed migration agents, Yasmin Bao, Melbourne, and Xu Li Xu, Sydney, in Australia's illicit sex trade.

Police have said that the age of state or federal authorities have discovered a dozen corrupt immigration officials, but the federal government is not acting on the information gathered.

The Victorian Government has announced that current laws to replace the Consumer Affairs as the lead agency in charge of monitoring the sex industry and the police station in charge. The announcement follows reports in the Age that exposes the failure of state government to act against licensed brothels after the state or federal police obtained evidence implicating the halls of the allegations of sexual slavery or crime organized.

Federal Interior Minister, Brendan O'Connor, told ABC Radio that evidence of sexual slavery transmitted as part of an age of four sets of research Corners was disturbing. Regarding''licensed brothels are regulated by the state and must be properly regulated,''said Mr. O'Connor.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the government granted licenses for brothels and migration agents should be discontinued if there is strong evidence that the police engaged in traffic.

''There has to be a much more rapid decision when there is evidence, either in brothels or immigration agents. We are talking about people who have their lives taken away, because they have been trafficked and forced into sexual slavery. I struggle to see how a light approach is acceptable.''

Victorian Consumer Affairs Minister Michael O'Brien has rejected the age of an interview on the subject for the second day.

The Australian Federal Police confirmed realizes que''se complaints by immigration agents involved in the sex industry,''the traffic, but that questions about the licensing of these agents for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

The department said que''no no evidence to suggest any immigration agents have been linked to human trafficking in the sex industry in the last five years.''

Ms. Bao, registered as a federal agent migration in Melbourne, has allegedly been working for months with a syndicate operating illegal brothels in apartments in CBD of Melbourne. The brothels are seen by Asian women on student visas. When contacted about the complaints, Ms. Bao - whose behavior has twice been referred by the complainant to the Victoria Police and once to the federal police, admitted that some Asian women working as masseuses offering sexual services to customers.

Sometimes the client''instructs the girl [to provide additional services] because the girls are young. They are very easy. Some customers to deceive.''

When asked about the age she could act as an immigration agent - agents are required by federal law to have a good reputation - and allegedly being involved in illicit sex industry, Ms Bao said, Would you like to leave''massage or do you want to stop immigration official business?''

Immigration agents are registered by the federal government and has powers to help people get visas and according to the Department of Immigration. They are intended to be governed by a strict code of conduct.

Xu Li Xu is an immigration agent in Sydney referred to several times in the federal police documents recently submitted to the Melbourne Magistrates Court in the prosecution of a woman who allegedly kept as sex slaves in a brothel in Melbourne.

AFP documents allege that Ms. Li willing student visas and applications from school for two women victims of trafficking by international crime syndicate from Asia to Australia in mid 2009. The union alleged trafficking in women and then forced them to work as sex slaves in brothels in Sydney and Melbourne.

A federal police statement witness one of the comfort women, said Ms. Li of course was working with two senior union figures. ''I realized that she [Ms. Li] should be working with them and be in charge of all student visa applications.''

Last year, federal police raided facilities connected to Ms. Li, although it has not been charged with any crime and has denied the accusations, claiming she was also a victim of human trafficking syndicate.

Director of Immigration Agents federal Registration Authority, Christine Sykes said no agents in the last 10 years had been sanctioned by the allegations of sexual slavery or trafficking. Since the office began operations in July 2009 after a review of the law of self-regulation of the migration advice profession, 17 registered migration agents had been disciplined for other violations. Neither Mrs Li Bao, or the lady has been punished.