Delays and refugee policy led to rioting
Morrison releases report on violence at detention centre
DELAYS in processing asylum seeker claims and the Federal Government’s refusal to resettle refugees in Australia were key factors that led to fatal riots at the Manus Island offshore detention centre in February.
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) released a review yesterday of the circumstances surrounding the riots, in which Iranian Reza Barati was killed and 69 others injured.
The investigation, led by former public servant Robert Cornall, found contribut-
Mr Barati was hit from behind
ing factors to the riots on February 16 to 18 were anger at being brought to the centre, anger with the Government’s policy of not resettling refugees in Australia, and frustration in processing delays.
Processing times for asylum seekers in the offshore detention network doubled between the government’s election in September last year and February.
The report also found that rising racial tensions between asylum seekers, G4S Security staff and Papua New Guinean officials added to already increasing tension.
The report said Mr Barati was hit from behind by a Salvation Army officer with “a very long stick” before being repeatedly kicked by a number of guards, and then a “PNG local” dropped a rock on his head.
The Salvation Army yesterday condemned “any such behaviour”.
The report does not isolate a single factor causing Mr Barati’s death, and Mr Morrison said it was up to PNG authorities to continue their investigations into the death
He said the report was clear that many asylum seekers were “severely beaten” by guards and PNG nationals during the riots.