❓ Ms. Davies questions the Premier about the release of unlawful non-citizens from immigration detention, focusing on notification, housing, and costs. The Premier details the timeline of events, police involvement, and monitoring efforts, emphasizing the Commonwealth's responsibility.
AnsweredQoN 857Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
IMMIGRATION DETENTION
CENTRES — STATELESS DETAINEES — RELEASE
857. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I refer to the release of 92
unlawful non-citizens over the weekend, with 32 from the Yongah Hill
Immigration Detention Centre and Perth Immigration Detention Centre, some of
whom have been described as the worst of the criminals in the cohort.
(1) When did the
Premier receive notification from the commonwealth government regarding the
release of these individuals?
(2) Where are these individuals,
some with a history of violence and sexual assault, now being housed?
(3) How much will
the management and monitoring of these individuals to keep our communities safe
cost the taxpayers of Western Australia?
CENTRES — STATELESS DETAINEES — RELEASE
857. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I refer to the release of 92
unlawful non-citizens over the weekend, with 32 from the Yongah Hill
Immigration Detention Centre and Perth Immigration Detention Centre, some of
whom have been described as the worst of the criminals in the cohort.
(1) When did the
Premier receive notification from the commonwealth government regarding the
release of these individuals?
(2) Where are these individuals,
some with a history of violence and sexual assault, now being housed?
(3) How much will
the management and monitoring of these individuals to keep our communities safe
cost the taxpayers of Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
This is obviously an issue that is
not of the state's doing. It is an issue that came to pass because of a
decision by the High Court on 8 November to release the stateless detainees
from immigration detention.
(1)–(3) On 9 November, the Western Australia Police Force
attended a briefing from the Australian Border Force, which is the
primary federal agency in charge of this particular action. On 11 November, 27 detainees
were released from WA immigration centres—that is, either from the
Yongah Hill or Perth immigration centres.
Then on 12 November, a further five detainees were released from WA immigration
centres. So far, 32 detainees have been released from WA facilities
since the High Court ruling.
Although the Australian Border Force
is the lead agency for the coordination of the activity associated with the
release of the detainees, it is working with WA police to understand what, if
any, public safety issues remain. Every
detainee released into WA has been assessed by police.
As
I understand it, a majority of them are heading to the eastern states, but
those who are staying are being closely monitored by police. Known sex
offenders have had reporting conditions imposed on them. My understanding is
that seven have been identified as reportable offenders under the Community
Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2004. Through liaison with ABF, WA police
met with these seven people and obtained required information from them. The
majority of them have been given further directions to meet with police in the
near future to be interviewed and have allowed their circumstances to be
assessed in line with community protection concerns.
The visa arrangements for these
particular detainees are still being determined by the commonwealth. Obviously,
they will be allowed to act in accordance with these restrictions. This is no
different from any other person being released from custody having served a term
in jail for a crime they committed. In these instances, once they committed
their crimes, they were then attempted to be deported by the immigration
centres. Even though the High Court has made this decision, and I accept that
it is a frustrating decision, this is the
work that police would undertake in the normal course of events. Monitoring of
those seven former detainees will obviously just be part of the
day-to-day work of police.
not of the state's doing. It is an issue that came to pass because of a
decision by the High Court on 8 November to release the stateless detainees
from immigration detention.
(1)–(3) On 9 November, the Western Australia Police Force
attended a briefing from the Australian Border Force, which is the
primary federal agency in charge of this particular action. On 11 November, 27 detainees
were released from WA immigration centres—that is, either from the
Yongah Hill or Perth immigration centres.
Then on 12 November, a further five detainees were released from WA immigration
centres. So far, 32 detainees have been released from WA facilities
since the High Court ruling.
Although the Australian Border Force
is the lead agency for the coordination of the activity associated with the
release of the detainees, it is working with WA police to understand what, if
any, public safety issues remain. Every
detainee released into WA has been assessed by police.
As
I understand it, a majority of them are heading to the eastern states, but
those who are staying are being closely monitored by police. Known sex
offenders have had reporting conditions imposed on them. My understanding is
that seven have been identified as reportable offenders under the Community
Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2004. Through liaison with ABF, WA police
met with these seven people and obtained required information from them. The
majority of them have been given further directions to meet with police in the
near future to be interviewed and have allowed their circumstances to be
assessed in line with community protection concerns.
The visa arrangements for these
particular detainees are still being determined by the commonwealth. Obviously,
they will be allowed to act in accordance with these restrictions. This is no
different from any other person being released from custody having served a term
in jail for a crime they committed. In these instances, once they committed
their crimes, they were then attempted to be deported by the immigration
centres. Even though the High Court has made this decision, and I accept that
it is a frustrating decision, this is the
work that police would undertake in the normal course of events. Monitoring of
those seven former detainees will obviously just be part of the
day-to-day work of police.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.