Fed: Detention centres involve great turmoil: immigration head

AAP General News (Australia)
02-20-2001
Fed: Detention centres involve great turmoil: immigration head

A Senate committee has been told that immigration detention centres remain places of
great turmoil, with at least five serious disturbances and a suicide since December.

Immigration Department secretary BILL FARMER says tensions are running high in the
holding centres.

There were two disturbances within 24 hours at Port Hedland in Western Australia in
January, and a large number of detainees fought among themselves a few days later at Curtin,
also in WA.

A 40-year-old Iranian was hospitalised with stab wounds from the Curtin …