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 31 May 2011:

With reference to the article 'Heroin a hit in migrant centres' on page 3 of The Sunday Telegraph, dated 29 May 2011, in which it is claimed that 'Heroin addicts are being held in immigration detention centres and provided with methadone':

(1) Who provides medical services to detainees in Australia's detention network.

(2) How many detainees in the detention network have a drug related problem.

(3) How many detainees in the detention network are addicted to heroin.

(4) How many detainees are currently receiving methadone.

(5) What has been the total cost of the methadone program at Sydney's Villawood detention centre and Victoria's Maribyrnong facility for each of the following financial years

  (a) 2007-08;

  (b) 2008-09;

  (c) 2009-10; and

  (d) 2010-11 to date.

(6) Have any detainees in the detention network developed drug dependency since they entered the detention network; if so, how many and where are they located.

(7) Can details be provided of the total cost for providing health related services to detainees in the detention network for each of the following financial years:

  (a) 2007-08;

  (b) 2008-09;

  (c) 2009-10; and

  (d) 2010-11 to date.

(8) Given that the article in The Sunday Telegraph states that 'Each detainee is racking up a medical bill on average of almost $8000 during their stay', is this correct; if not, what is the average medical bill incurred by a detainee during their time in detention.

(9) For each of the following financial years: 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, and 2010-11 to date:

  (a) on how many occasions have illegal substances been found in detention centres; and

  (b) what were these illegal substances.