A New Zealand woman in her early 30s has committed suicide in Villawood detention centre, this morning, Sunday 22 May.
Her body was found in her room by other immigration detainees around 10.45am this morning shortly after a room search had been conducted by Serco officers. Nothing had been found in her room, in LIMA, the women’s compound in Villawood.Â
The woman’s death follows a series of suicide and suidends attempts in Villawood detention centres.
On 26 March, 2022 an Iranian asylum seeker committed suicide in the Villawood detention centre. On, Friday 22 April, an Iranian refugee attempted suicide in Lachlan compound.Â
There have been at least two other serious suicide attempts in Lachlan compound in May. Both were hospitalised for several days floowing their suicide attempt.
Immigration detainees in Villawood have been left traumatised by the latest suicde.
“This should never have happened,” one detainee told the Refugee Action Coalition, ” This lady needed help; everyone knew that. She was really struggling with her mental health. If she had got help, it wouldn’t have happened. But Serco does not care.” Other detainees said that there had been incidents of the lady being brutally treated by Serrco officers.
The Department of Home Affairs and detention medical provider, International Health and Medical Services Pty Ltd (IHMS), are already the subject of court proceedings regarding the suicide death of a detainee in Villawood in 2019.
The case was set for mention in the NSW magistrates’ court just prior to the federal election, regarding charges against the Commonwealth and medical provider IHMS, under the Commonwealth Work Health and Safety Act 2011, alleging both Home Affairs and IHMS had seriously neglected the mental health of a detainee who took his own life in 2019.
It is also alleged that Home Affairs and IHMS failed to provide necessary training, information, and supervision to mental health staff in relation to their care for that detainee.”
“There is a epidemic of suicides and suicide attempts in Villwood that needs a full investigatioin,” said Ian Rintoul, spoksperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
The in-coming Labor government is in a good position to hold the investigation into immigration detention that has long been needed. It is believed the woman’s visa had been cancelled under section 501, the section of the Migration Act that has seen many New Zealanders deported under protest from the New Zealand government.
“It is time for a review of section 501,” said Rintoul, “People held by this section in immigration detention have already served time for any crime they have committed. They should not be in immigration detention.”
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713.
