Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration) Share this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, upon notice, on 12 April 2011:

(1) With reference to Group 2 asylum seekers, unauthorized boat arrivals:

(a) can a full account be provided of the health screening process that is undertaken upon the asylum seeker's arrival into immigration detention;

(b) how long does this health screening process take; and

(c) is each asylum seeker subjected to the same health screening process upon arrival; if not: (i) why not; and (ii) what are the different health screening processes to which the asylum seekers are subjected.

(2) With reference to the department's 'Fact Sheet 75', which states, 'The department has a comprehensive process for checking the health of irregular maritime arrivals. An Induction Health Assessment is conducted to identify conditions that will require attention. This assessment includes the collection of personal and medical history, a physical examination and formalised mental health screening and assessment':

(a) can a full list be provided detailing the medical tests undertaken during the process for checking the health of an irregular maritime arrival; and

(b) what diseases are tested for.

(3) With reference to the department's fact sheet regarding the proposed Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre at Northam, Western Australia, and the statement, 'The department has rigorous screening processes in place to ensure that all asylum seekers are screened for TB within 72 hours of arrival into immigration detention':

(a) can an outline be provided detailing what the 'rigorous screening process' for tuberculosis entails;

(b) does this rigorous screening process include an x-ray for each asylum seeker; if not, why not;

(c) are all asylum seekers subjected to this 'rigorous screening process' for tuberculosis; if not, why not and upon what basis;

(d) what tests are undertaken to identify if an asylum seeker has tuberculosis or not;

(e) how many asylum seekers have been identified as having tuberculosis since August 2007; and

(f) does this 'rigorous screening process' test for active disease and latent infection tuberculosis; if not, why not.

(4)What is the process undertaken if an asylum seeker tests positive to the tuberculosis skin test reaction (PPD test).

(5) Are all asylum seekers subjected to secondary testing for tuberculosis 8 to 10 weeks after the initial testing; if not, why not.

(6) What is the process undertaken if an asylum seeker tests positive for active tuberculosis.

(7) Given that asylum seekers who test positive and present with symptoms of tuberculosis are kept isolated from the rest of the detention population:

(a) where are these asylum seekers kept;

(b) are they kept in a quarantine facility; and

(c) how long are they held there.

(8) Can a list be provided of all quarantine facilities available at immigration detention centres in Australia, including the patient capacity of each facility.

(9) Given that the department's fact sheet regarding the proposed Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre at Northam, Western Australia states, 'Based on advice from the National Tuberculosis Advisory Committee, we are confident that asylum seekers do not pose any public health threat to the Northam community':

(a) what was the basis of the advice upon which this statement was made; and

(b) can a copy of this advice be provided.

(10) What procedures are in place to ensure that front line staff working with asylum seekers are protected from infectious diseases, including when the procedures were last reviewed and by whom.

(11) Is the department aware of any instances in which Customs officers contracted tuberculosis from asylum seekers between 2008 and 2011; if so, can details be provided of how many Customs officers have been affected in each year, for each of the following calendar years, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.

(12) Can details be provided of the department's guidelines that deal with infection control measures, containment processes, monitoring and reporting of infectious diseases.

(13) Does the department have a system in place which allows for the monitoring of threats of outbreaks such as Hendra virus and Lyssavirus, and emerging disease, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome and avian influenza, as recommended by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners 'Standards for Health Services in Immigration Detention Centres'; if not, why not.

(14) What emergency plans are in place in the event of an outbreak of infectious disease at any:

(a) Australian Immigration Detention Centre;

(b) Australian Immigration Residential Housing facility;

(c) Australian Immigration Transit Accommodation Centre; and

(d) Australian Alternative Place of Detention.

(15) What emergency plans are in place in the event of an infectious disease epidemic occurring within the Shire of Northam.