Almost all of the child asylum seekers inside the Christmas Island immigration detention centre are reportedly sick and distressed, with many wetting the bed and some developing severe speech impediments and having flashbacks.

Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs has recounted her inspection of the centre last week as part of a national inquiry into the mandatory detention of children seeking asylum in Australia.

Professor Triggs says conditions have worsened markedly since her last visit four months ago.

There are 1,102 asylum seekers in the centre, including 174 children, and Professor Triggs says she and her team interviewed hundreds of detainees over three days.

"Almost all of them, including the adults, were coughing, were sick, were depressed, unable to communicate, were weak," she told AM.

"Some of them [are] not leaving their cabins, are not eating."

Professor Triggs was accompanied by leading paediatrician Professor Elizabeth Elliott.

"We have seen children who have become sad, they are crying all the time," Dr Elliott said.

"They have developed bed wetting and poor sleeping. Some are refusing to eat.

"We saw several children, which is quite distressing, who had developed severe speech impediments.

"They were having flashbacks and nightmares."

Christmas Island 'no place for young children'

There are almost half the number of children at the centre compared to the last Human Rights Commission visit in March, but Professor Elliott says that is still too many under current conditions.

"Christmas Island is no place for young children," she said.

Professor Triggs says there is an unprecedented rate of self-harm amongst children.

She says 128 cases have been reported in the last 15 reporting months.

What we witnessed really was, with this long duration of detention to one extent of another, people are just reaching the end of the tether. They have had enough.
Dr Elizabeth Elliott
"The desperation is palpable ... and the boredom of the children with no school, nothing to do," Professor Triggs said.

"It is very well known, as a matter of research, that children decline much more rapidly than their parents do.

"There is no eye contact with some of them."

Professor Elliott says she was especially concerned about the unaccompanied minors.

"[There were] boys aged 14 to 17 who had seen violence such as shooting and abduction of relatives at home and were now in the detention centre and really felt that they had no future," she said.

Mothers reported to the Human Rights Commission delegation that their children were constantly sick and developmentally delayed.

The women reported being afraid to put babies on the ground for fear of dirt, stones and animals.

Detainees 'reaching the end of the tether'

Professor Elliott says Christmas Island is a poor environment for raising young children.

"Mothers complain that there is just nowhere for them to put their children down to crawl and learn to walk and there is very limited space within their own cabins for children to move about," she said.

Professor Triggs says the mothers are struggling themselves.


AUDIO: Gillian Triggs speaks with AM (AM)
Her inspection took place while a small group of the female detainees, including mothers, were on official watch after threatening self-harm.

"When we were there, and I can speak very categorically about this, there were 13 women on high-level risk monitoring for suicide, 10 of them requiring 24-hour watch," she said.

Christmas Island has a visiting adult psychiatrist and a visiting child and adolescent psychiatrist.

Of the detainees they spoke to, Professor Elliott says all of them had some sort of mental health problem.

"What we witnessed really was, with this long duration of detention to one extent of another, people are just reaching the end of the tether," Professor Elliott told RN Breakfast.

"They have had enough."

Government responds to request for education

There is one hope, according to Professor Triggs - the children will soon be able to go to school.

Professor Triggs says the Government has responded to her request for education for the children.

More stories about asylum seekers

Fact file: Why the fate of 153 asylum seekers is in the hands of the High Court
Number of women on self-harm watch at Christmas Island rises
Mothers' self-harm won't influence asylum policy, Abbott says
Asylum seekers may be held at sea for weeks if High Court hears case
Workers to be forced to give evidence at detention inquiry
She says teachers should be on the island within a couple of weeks.

"That is probably the most important ray of light in the current situation," Professor Triggs said.

"They will be able to have a routine to their days.

"Their parents will have the routine of getting them to school and making sure their homework is done."

Professor Triggs hopes the school will transform life within the camp, but says she wants more from the Federal Government.

"It does not take away from the fact that they (the asylum seekers) are still sitting in a legal limbo with no sense of a future and no sense that they are going to be sent anywhere that is safe," she said.

"The Government is stripping away their personal dignity because they can't even cling onto the fact that they are legally recognised as a refugee within the global community."

The inquiry into children in Australian immigration detention is expected to report to the Government before the end of the year.

www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-24/christmas-island-children-asylum-seekerswetting-bed-flashbacks/5620202

They're terrible parents, putting their kids through such an ordeal. Shame on them!

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 11:42am:

They're terrible parents, putting their kids through such an ordeal. Shame on them!

Yeah, good parents wouldn't protect their children by fleeing with them in the face of persecution any means possible.

The cons opposes the freedom of people to flee persecution any means possible.

Shame cons, shame.

if they were such good parents they would have stopped in any of the 15 countries they passed thru to get where they are.

scumbags.

longweekend58 wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 12:03pm:

if they were such good parents they would have stopped in any of the 15 countries they passed thru to get where they are. scumbags.

Which 15 countries did they all pass through. Or are you making up lies to try and deflect from the satanic abbott government's policies.

____ wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 12:22pm:

longweekend58 wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 12:03pm: if they were such good parents they would have stopped in any of the 15 countries they passed thru to get where they are. scumbags. Which 15 countries did they all pass through. Or are you making up lies to try and deflect from the satanic abbott government's policies.

you don't get to Christmas IS from Afghanistan by transporter pad.

Yep, got to agree with you Green. They and their families should immediately be brought onshore, given priority housing, free health care in private hospitals and special welfare benefits for 10 years at levels not available to Australians.
That is the only just solution to this situation.

bogarde73 wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 12:27pm:

Yep, got to agree with you Green. They and their families should immediately be brought onshore, given priority housing, free health care in private hospitals and special welfare benefits for 10 years at levels not available to Australians. That is the only just solution to this situation.

Agree in part. Glade you are awakening to your previous errors in thinking. Well done.

Or perhaps, build better accomodation, and hasten the application process. 

____ wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 12:39pm:

bogarde73 wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 12:27pm: Yep, got to agree with you Green. They and their families should immediately be brought onshore, given priority housing, free health care in private hospitals and special welfare benefits for 10 years at levels not available to Australians. That is the only just solution to this situation. Agree in part. Glade you are awakening to your previous errors in thinking. Well done.

and naturally sarcasm eludes your grad 5 educated mind.

longweekend58 wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 12:50pm:

____ wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 12:39pm: bogarde73 wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 12:27pm: Yep, got to agree with you Green. They and their families should immediately be brought onshore, given priority housing, free health care in private hospitals and special welfare benefits for 10 years at levels not available to Australians. That is the only just solution to this situation. Agree in part. Glade you are awakening to your previous errors in thinking. Well done. and naturally sarcasm eludes your grad 5 educated mind.

And you read the situation wrong yet again. Poor thing, always three steps behind.

By the way, it's about time you paid your election bet to that palestinian child charity.

____ wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 11:07am:

Almost all of the child asylum seekers inside the Christmas Island immigration detention centre are reportedly sick and distressed, with many wetting the bed and some developing severe speech impediments and having flashbacks ...

This takes me right back to my days in boarding school ...  8-)

Apparently the Human Rights people lost the address and never made it to the school to release us from our oppression.  :P

But then again, we were only White Anglo-Saxon Protestant boys, so there weren't any Brownie points to be had for rescuing us ...

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 1:02pm:

____ wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 11:07am: Almost all of the child asylum seekers inside the Christmas Island immigration detention centre are reportedly sick and distressed, with many wetting the bed and some developing severe speech impediments and having flashbacks ... This takes me right back to my days in boarding school ...  8-) Apparently the Human Rights people lost the address and never made it to the school to release us from our oppression.  :P But then again, we were only White Anglo-Saxon Protestant boys, so there weren't any Brownie points to be had for rescuing us ...

You have a severe speech impediment and wet your bed because of the trauma. Or are you trying to make out the abuse the abbott government is applying to these children is acceptable and normal ?

____ wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 1:10pm:

You have a severe speech impediment and wet your bed because of the trauma.

They've been coached by the pro bono lawyers and the pinkoes to say these things as all part of softening up the government's resolve.


____ wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 1:10pm:

Or are you trying to make out the abuse the abbott government is applying to these children is acceptable and normal ?

I don't know of any 'abuse' other than taking care of a situation that these kids' parents put them in.

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 1:17pm:

They've been coached by the pro bono lawyers and the pinkoes to say these things as all part of softening up the government's resolve.

Heaven forbid we show compassion to innocent children.


Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 1:17pm:

I don't know of any 'abuse' other than taking care of a situation that these kids' parents put them in.

There have been numerous reports into offshore detention centre conditions, and they have all been posted here.  None have ever said anything positive.

Stratos wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 2:07pm:

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 1:17pm: They've been coached by the pro bono lawyers and the pinkoes to say these things as all part of softening up the government's resolve. Heaven forbid we show compassion to innocent children. Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 1:17pm: I don't know of any 'abuse' other than taking care of a situation that these kids' parents put them in. There have been numerous reports into offshore detention centre conditions, and they have all been posted here.  None have ever said anything positive.

It's a Detention Centre.

Perhaps the food is not 5-Star Michelin Cordon Bleu fare ~ but I feel sure they'll get over this disappointment in time.

Lots of Aussie kids are still attending schools that are 'de-mountables' with no split-system air-conditioning.

These brats are destined by their religion and their cultural background to grow up to be Jew-haters, and if for no other reason I don't want them here.

Immigrant Ferals on the Rampage

Abbott is a political criminal for continuing to bring people of this religion into Australia.

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 2:57pm:

Perhaps the food is not 5-Star Michelin Cordon Bleu fare ~ but I feel sure they'll get over this disappointment in time.

No one is expecting it is 5 star, you are drawing on straw men. 

In time though, that's odd, seeing as they are currently being held indefinitely, hmm.


Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 2:57pm:

Lots of Aussie kids are still attending schools that are 'de-mountables' with no split-system air-conditioning.

If indeed there are Australia schools that are similar in condition to detention centers, then absolutely there should be something done about it.

Find one so we can do a side by side comparison.

Stratos wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:06pm:

In time though, that's odd, seeing as they are currently being held indefinitely.

You're propagating a lie by saying this.

As with the Sri Lankans ~ their parents have the option at any time to take the money offered them by the Australian government ~ and to go home.

Nothing is holding them in the detention centres except themselves. Their parents are hanging in there in the hope they'll eventually be able to shop at Woolies and Coles when they're not jetting back to their Middle Eastern homelands to visit family and friends.

Isn't it time you stopped allowing yourself to be scammed?

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 2:57pm:

Abbott is a political criminal.

Amen.

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:16pm:

their parents

Ah yes, what about those without parents, of which there are quite a few?  Or for that matter, how about those with genuine threat to their safety or freedom in their homeland? 


Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:16pm:

As with the Sri Lankans

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:16pm:

Middle Eastern homelands

lol.

Oh, and you missed this one.


Stratos wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:06pm:

If indeed there are Australia schools that are similar in condition to detention centers, then absolutely there should be something done about it. Find one so we can do a side by side comparison.

Stratos wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:33pm:

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 3:16pm: their parents Ah yes, what about those without parents, of which there are quite a few?

 

The parents are in Indonesia.

The whole thing is a scam, you poor sap!

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:35pm:

The parents are in Indonesia.

Do you have any proof of this?

Also, for the third time:



Stratos wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 3:06pm:

f indeed there are Australia schools that are similar in condition to detention centers, then absolutely there should be something done about it. Find one so we can do a side by side comparison.

Quote:

Almost all of the child asylum seekers inside the Christmas Island immigration detention centre...

And 1 in 6 children in Australia are gripped by poverty.


Quote:

Child Poverty 1 in 6 children - nearly 600,000 children - are living in poverty in Australia The number of children living in poverty is a disturbing and growing human rights issue in Australia.  While Australia continues to thrive as one of the most prosperous countries in the world, an increasing number of our youngest are being left behind. Although Bob Hawke's 1987 promise that 'no child will be living in poverty by 1990' resulted in a substantial reduction in child poverty during the 1980s and 1990s, this issue has re-emerged in the 2010s as a major social policy concern due to an increase in child poverty during these years. The most dramatic figures show that poverty among single parent families has increased by 15% since 2001. http://www.acoss.org.au/policy/child_poverty/

There are more than enough issues to address here on the mainland. Let's look after our own. That might even be classified as an act of humanity.

salad in wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:22pm:

Quote: Almost all of the child asylum seekers inside the Christmas Island immigration detention centre... And 1 in 6 children in Australia are gripped by poverty. [quote] Child Poverty 1 in 6 children - nearly 600,000 children - are living in poverty in Australia The number of children living in poverty is a disturbing and growing human rights issue in Australia.  While Australia continues to thrive as one of the most prosperous countries in the world, an increasing number of our youngest are being left behind. Although Bob Hawke's 1987 promise that 'no child will be living in poverty by 1990' resulted in a substantial reduction in child poverty during the 1980s and 1990s, this issue has re-emerged in the 2010s as a major social policy concern due to an increase in child poverty during these years. The most dramatic figures show that poverty among single parent families has increased by 15% since 2001. http://www.acoss.org.au/policy/child_poverty/

There are more than enough issues to address here on the mainland. Let's look after our own. That might even be classified as an act of humanity.

[/quote]


Why can't we look after both?

children getting sick in the middle of winter - why, it's unheard of!

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:28pm:

Why can't we look after both?

The task of lifting 600,000 Australian kids out of poverty is a big job and it won't be done overnite. If we want to fix the problems of third world countries we should issue free birth control pills.

salad in wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:33pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 4:28pm: Why can't we look after both? The task of lifting 600,000 Australian kids out of poverty is a big job and it won't be done overnite. If we want to fix the problems of third world countries we should issue free birth control pills.

So, your answer is ... "too hard"?    :-/

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:36pm:

So, your answer is ... "too hard"?    :-/

No....let's get cracking. Let's start by sending all welfare-absorbing asylum shoppers back to their country of birth. We could redistribute that money and target 'in need' Australian families. SH!T. What am I saying.

salad in wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:46pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 4:36pm: So, your answer is ... "too hard"?    :-/ No....let's get cracking. Let's start by sending all welfare-absorbing asylum shoppers back to their country of birth.

Do you understand what asylum seeking means?

salad in wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:46pm:

No....let's get cracking.

I vote we start by eliminating offshore processing

http://www.ncoa.gov.au/report/appendix-vol-2/images/chart10-14-1.png

Costs pushed directly onto bleeding heart lefties. EVERYBODY WINS!

http://www.ncoa.gov.au/report/appendix-vol-2/10-14-illegal-maritime-arrival-costs.html

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:55pm:

salad in wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 4:46pm: greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 4:36pm: So, your answer is ... "too hard"?    :-/ No....let's get cracking. Let's start by sending all welfare-absorbing asylum shoppers back to their country of birth. Do you understand what asylum seeking means?

'asylum seeking' is just a slogan, the name of a criminal operation.  Why are you so obsessed with the NAMES of things?

To be fair, in part I would estimate that (not just the children) the vast majority of refugees would be exhibiting distinct signs of PTSD, well at least, considering what a genuine refugee might be fleeing from.

As such, they are already behind the 8 ball (in effect), and particularly the children - in terms of healthy development.

Then we throw them into a lock up (in effect) and drag our feet with processing, potentially because, more resources are spent of figuring out ways to avoid having them as here as a problem.

Oh, and we have the ankle brigade who simply want to blame the parents so they can ignorantly carry on with their lives pretending they themselves are somehow decent and worthwhile people. News flash, you're nothing of very much worth...

The best solution to this would be to take far more significant action, or in some cases, stop interfering with democratic processes in a range of countries to reduce the absolute need for people to run for safety.

Obviously a number of permanently residing Australian's (can't really call all of them people after all) do not want refugees here (yep, even the genuine ones), as such, it would seem reasonable for those people to actually back some genuine solutions to actively stop the real problem.

Here's a hint, turning boats around is not that solution...

Yeah I know, you just are not going to like that - Boo Hoo...

Gillian Triggs...  what a waste of space that woman is.

Grendel wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 6:27pm:

Gillian Triggs...  what a waste of space that woman is.

---

longweekend58 wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 12:03pm:

if they were such good parents they would have stopped in any of the 15 countries they passed thru to get where they are. scumbags.

You still claiming to be a Christian, longy??

:D

longweekend58 wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 5:45pm:

'asylum seeking' is just a slogan, the name of a criminal operation.  Why are you so obsessed with the NAMES of things?

Not to those seeking asylum ... but you don't give a rats ar$e about them do you? You only care about yourself and advancing the liberals cause ..

where's your compassion and caring for your fellow man? You're a coward, a charlatan and a disgrace to genuine christians everywhere

Lobo wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 6:53pm:

longweekend58 wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 12:03pm: if they were such good parents they would have stopped in any of the 15 countries they passed thru to get where they are. scumbags. You still claiming to be a Christian, longy?? :D

He's simply following good Christian traditions ..... ;D ;D

John Smith wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 6:49pm:

Grendel wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 6:27pm: Gillian Triggs...  what a waste of space that woman is.

Got nothin Trollboy
say nothin.... :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D

I've seen and heard her often enough to know what I'm talking about.
Pity for you eh.... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

longweekend58 wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 5:45pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 4:55pm: salad in wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 4:46pm: greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 4:36pm: So, your answer is ... "too hard"?    :-/ No....let's get cracking. Let's start by sending all welfare-absorbing asylum shoppers back to their country of birth. Do you understand what asylum seeking means? 'asylum seeking' is just a slogan, the name of a criminal operation.  Why are you so obsessed with the NAMES of things?

I'm sorry Grendel: it appears that there is someone on this forum with less intelligence than you.  My sincere apologies.

Another labor green mess someone has to clean up.

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 4:28pm:

Why can't we look after both?

Because we shouldn't be given succour and sanction to the children of our cultural enemies within our own homeland.

I asked gandalf in what ways does Islam differ from Christianity ~ and, very understandably, he left that question go unanswered.

Phemanderac wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 6:23pm:

To be fair, in part I would estimate that (not just the children) the vast majority of refugees would be exhibiting distinct signs of PTSD, well at least, considering what a genuine refugee might be fleeing from. As such, they are already behind the 8 ball (in effect), and particularly the children - in terms of healthy development. Then we throw them into a lock up (in effect) and drag our feet with processing, potentially because, more resources are spent of figuring out ways to avoid having them as here as a problem. Oh, and we have the ankle brigade who simply want to blame the parents so they can ignorantly carry on with their lives pretending they themselves are somehow decent and worthwhile people. News flash, you're nothing of very much worth... The best solution to this would be to take far more significant action, or in some cases, stop interfering with democratic processes in a range of countries to reduce the absolute need for people to run for safety. Obviously a number of permanently residing Australian's (can't really call all of them people after all) do not want refugees here (yep, even the genuine ones), as such, it would seem reasonable for those people to actually back some genuine solutions to actively stop the real problem. Here's a hint, turning boats around is not that solution... Yeah I know, you just are not going to like that - Boo Hoo...

The best and most logical solution is for Australia to come to an agreement with one or more of the world's 52 Islamic nations that they take the Muslim asylum-seekers who turn up on our doorstep.

We are not a Muslim society. Muslims have demonstrated an attitude problem wherever they have settled in the West.

if the kids have been throwing up , it may just be because they caught a glimpse of milne or SHY. they have that effect on me

Grendel wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 6:56pm:

John Smith wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 6:49pm: Grendel wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 6:27pm: Gillian Triggs...  what a waste of space that woman is. Got nothin Trollboy say nothin.... :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D I've seen and heard her often enough to know what I'm talking about. Pity for you eh.... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

---

aquascoot wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 9:04pm:

if the kids have been throwing up , it may just be because they caught a glimpse of milne or SHY. they have that effect on me

perhaps you should go to Christmas Island then? see how that cures you!

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 8:31pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 4:28pm: Why can't we look after both? Because we shouldn't be given succour and sanction to the children of our cultural enemies within our own homeland. I asked gandalf in what ways does Islam differ from Christianity ~ and, very understandably, he left that question go unanswered.

cultural enemies

John Smith wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 9:05pm:

aquascoot wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 9:04pm: if the kids have been throwing up , it may just be because they caught a glimpse of milne or SHY. they have that effect on me perhaps you should go to Christmas Island then? see how that cures you!

i'd consider going there but its hard to get a flight with all those highly paid public servants like the child commisioner miss Triggs and her entourage hogging all the seats.
let me see, if she said conditions were fine, she'd be out of a job, so , oh wonder of wonders, she says all 187 children are sick.  what should she do?
Keep on enquiring i suppose, the taxpayer is paying her for as long as she says she has work to do (ie until she wishes to retire from this sham position)

aquascoot wrote on Jul 24^th, 2014 at 9:11pm:

John Smith wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 9:05pm: aquascoot wrote on Jul 24th, 2014 at 9:04pm: if the kids have been throwing up , it may just be because they caught a glimpse of milne or SHY. they have that effect on me perhaps you should go to Christmas Island then? see how that cures you! i'd consider going there but its hard to get a flight with all those highly paid public servants like the child commisioner miss Triggs and her entourage hogging all the seats. let me see, if she said conditions were fine, she'd be out of a job, so , oh wonder of wonders, she says all 187 children are sick.  what should she do? Keep on enquiring i suppose, the taxpayer is paying her for as long as she says she has work to do (ie until she wishes to retire from this sham position)

I'll get you a flight ... Pm me your real name and address, I'll even pay for your ticket.