Refugee attempts suicide at Melbourne detention centre

A medical team is attending a Tamil refugee at the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation centre in Broadmeadows this (Thursday) afternoon.

The Tamil refugee, who has a negative ASIO security finding went to his room after speaking with human rights officials this afternoon.

It is believed that he has taken a tablet overdose.

It is the man’s second suicide attempt in a little over a month.

The negative ASIO security finding condemns refugees to indefinite detention. The Tamil has been in detention for almost three years. There is no right to know what evidence ASIO relies on for the negative security finding and there is no right to review or appeal negative decisions.

“The mental health of many of the ASIO negative refugees has been seriously deteriorating in recent months,” said Ian Rintoul, from the Refugee Action Coalition.

“Having no appeal rights is such an obvious violation of natural justice – something that would completely unacceptable in the criminal justice system. Yet these refugees and their families are being given a life sentence with no opportunity to see the evidence against them and no opportunity to refute the evidence against them.”

For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713