Immigration Minister Senator Vanstone refused today to admit whether a new punishment compound had been established at Baxter Detention Centre to run what management called a "four-phase behaviour regime".
Democrats' Senator for South Australia Natasha Stott Despoja denounced Senator Vanstone for refusing to release information about people claiming to have been punished in the new "Red One compound".
"What is the Government afraid of us finding out? The Minister's comments indicate there is no transparency or accountability in the treatment of those held at Baxter," Senator Stott Despoja said.
"The Democrats understand the new behaviour regime includes 20 hours of isolation per day and lasts up to 6 weeks.
"We have spoken to people who claim they were locked up in the punishment compound for spitting on the ground near a nurse.
"Others were apparently released on the morning of my visit weeks earlier than they were originally told they would be released."
Senator Vanstone, who undertook to the Senate to investigate whether there had been any change at the centre, would not confirm whether the allegedly new compound was only used to hold those who had harmed themselves or were in danger of harming themselves, or if it was also used for punishment purposes.
In previous Democrat questions about this "behaviour regime", the Minister also avoided the issue of the Red One compound, instead choosing to focus attention on the management unit which was set up for the purposes of observing people at risk of self-harm.
However, the Democrats understand the Red One compound was set up by a private company to administer punishments to their 'clients' designed to modify behaviour so it can streamline the centre and allegedly make greater profits.
"The Minister must release the records of the Red One compound, showing reasons why people have been placed here," Senator Stott Despoja said.
"In addition, the Minister must immediately institute, at a minimum, the same safeguards and review processes for detained asylum seekers to which convicted criminals are entitled."
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