The head of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIPB) has launched a spirited defence of Australia’s immigration detention centres, publicly disputing claims they are “gulags” and “places of torture”.

DIPB Secretary Michael Pezzullo took the unusual step on Tuesday of going public with his grievances following a recent claim by a prominent psychiatrist that the centres recalled the gulags of Nazi Germany.

Mr Pezzullo wrote that he was “highly offended” by “falsehood, rumour and unfounded speculation” about his staff and the facilities by critics of immigration detention in the public and the media.

He also claimed the DIPB and its critics shared the same goals – “to have no children at all in immigration detention”.

“Recent comparisons of immigration detention centres to ‘gulags’; suggestions that detention involves a ‘public numbing and indifference’ similar to that allegedly experienced in Nazi Germany; and persistent suggestions that detention facilities are places of ‘torture’ are highly offensive, unwarranted and plainly wrong – and yet they continue to be made in some quarters,” Mr Pezzullo said.

The rare public statement by the head of a government department said the DIPB and its uniformed operational arm, the Australian Border Force, “does not operate beyond the law” and isn’t an “immoral ‘rogue agency'”.

Under the Abbott and Turnbull governments, the DIPB and Border Force have been pilloried by refugee advocates and sections of the press.

Flash points have included allegations of rape from asylum seekers detained on Nauru, a Brisbane hospital’s refusal to hand over a baby to the department out of fear it would be returned to detention and riots at the Manus Island and Nauru detention centres.

These incidents prompted high-profile public protests, and a huge ‘#LetThemStay’ social media campaign.

One of the most inflammatory criticisms of Australia’s detention policy came from a psychiatrist, who wrote in Australasian Psychiatry journal that prolonged detention evoked reminders of Nazi Germany and Soviet Union “gulags”.

Mr Pezzullo rubbished such claims and explained that Australia’s offshore and local detention centres were always “underpinned by the law of the land”.

“Any contention that prolonged immigration detention represents ‘reckless indifference and calculated cruelty’, in order to deter future boat arrivals, do not pass even the most basic fact check,” he said.

“The number of children in detention would not be falling if that were the case.

“The resources devoted to providing medical and support services, and the commitment of doctors, service providers and departmental staff to the welfare of those individuals, undercuts emotive and inflammatory claims to the contrary.”

The DIPB Secretary listed the improvements and commitments made to the medical care given in detention centres.

“The Department provides access to mental health nurses, counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists to individuals transferred to Australia for medical care,” Mr Pezzullo said.

“The Nauru and Manus Regional Processing Centres both have mental health care staff onsite, including mental health nurses, counsellors, torture and trauma counsellors, psychologists and a psychiatrist. There are also additional mental health care staff based at the Nauru Settlement clinic.”

http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2016/03/08/immigration-boss-offended-portrayal-department/?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20160309%20The%20New%20Daily%20(2)&utm_content=&spMailingID=24917863&spUserID=MTA5NTgzNjg2NTYwS0&spJobID=761324704&spReportId=NzYxMzI0NzA0S0

If rapes occur in a detention centre, it just proves two things. Firstly, it proves that the government is right to detain these people for the protection of Australian citizens (which is the governments' primary job) and secondly, it proves that those who are committing these crimes are definitely not the sort of people we want in this country.

“. . .allegedly occurred in nazi germany” numbing down feelings about the constant abuses that occur in these concentration camps, like “allegedly” occurred in nazi Germany!

Hey, these are holiday camps!

There will always be some unthinking useful id iots like ArmPit around who will spread this propaganda, this dumbing/numbing down of feeling! ArmPit NEVER thinks for himself and gets all his opinions direct from that rag, the Daily Toilet!

This govt makes me ashamed to be an Australian!

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 9^th, 2016 at 9:07am:

“. . .allegedly occurred in nazi germany” numbing down feelings about the constant abuses that occur in these concentration camps, like “allegedly” occurred in nazi Germany! Hey, these are holiday camps! There will always be some unthinking useful id iots like ArmPit around who will spread this propaganda, this dumbing/numbing down of feeling! ArmPit NEVER thinks for himself and gets all his opinions direct from that rag, the Daily Toilet! This govt makes me ashamed to be an Australian!

Stiff go bury your head in the sand.. ;) ;) ;)

And have another drink!

FRED. wrote on Mar 9^th, 2016 at 9:11am:

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 9th, 2016 at 9:07am: “. . .allegedly occurred in nazi germany” numbing down feelings about the constant abuses that occur in these concentration camps, like “allegedly” occurred in nazi Germany! Hey, these are holiday camps! There will always be some unthinking useful id iots like ArmPit around who will spread this propaganda, this dumbing/numbing down of feeling! ArmPit NEVER thinks for himself and gets all his opinions direct from that rag, the Daily Toilet! This govt makes me ashamed to be an Australian! Stiff go bury your head in the sand.. ;) ;) ;) And have another drink!

That will be his 8th for the day already.

Doesn’t take long for rightards to be reduced to abuse, is it?

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 9^th, 2016 at 9:16am:

Doesn’t take long for rightards to be reduced to abuse, is it?

About the same as it takes a leftard to play the victim card and turn on the tears.

Jennifer wrote on Mar 9^th, 2016 at 9:19am:

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 9th, 2016 at 9:16am: Doesn’t take long for rightards to be reduced to abuse, is it? About the same as it takes a leftard to play the victim card and turn on the tears.

... and lies.

What lies, Armpit? All you have done is repeat lies from the Daily Toilet

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 9^th, 2016 at 9:16am:

Doesn’t take long for rightards to be reduced to abuse, is it?

OOHH  my FKGOD  read all the threads before you make rash comments  >:( >:( >:(

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 9^th, 2016 at 9:16am:

Doesn’t take long for rightards to be reduced to abuse, is it?

The abuse began in reply #2...

Immigration Boss Liberal mouthpiece says all is good , geez what a revelation  ::)

The Heartless Felon wrote on Mar 9^th, 2016 at 9:22am:

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 9th, 2016 at 9:16am: Doesn’t take long for rightards to be reduced to abuse, is it? The abuse began in reply #2...

That was just describing what is what. ArmPit cannot think for himself and all his opinions do come from the Daily Toilet and are shot down quickly.

So ArmPit, what lies?

The Heartless Felon wrote on Mar 9^th, 2016 at 9:22am:

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 9th, 2016 at 9:16am: Doesn’t take long for rightards to be reduced to abuse, is it? The abuse began in reply #2...

Correct.

So ArmPit can’t point to any lies. Noted.

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 9^th, 2016 at 9:32am:

So ArmPit can’t point to any lies. Noted.

It's a gulag, a concentration camp, people are tortured there. The guards are armed. All lies from the increasingly desperate and devoid of reality left wing nut brigade.

So, no lies you can point to, noted.

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 9^th, 2016 at 10:41am:

So, no lies you can point to, noted.

See above.

A place of indefinite detention, sadistic guards, daily humiliation of detainees, all costing $Bns.

Its time wrote on Mar 9^th, 2016 at 9:23am:

Immigration Boss Liberal mouthpiece says all is good , geez what a revelation  ::)

Pezullo is far for a Liberal mouthpiece

Quote:

Mr Pezzullo joined the Department of Defence as a graduate in 1987. He worked in Defence until 1992 in a variety of strategic policy and intelligence positions. He then transferred to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, where he worked in the International Division. In March 1993, he joined the staff of the Foreign Minister, Senator the Hon Gareth Evans QC. He remained in Parliament House until December 2001, including serving five years as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Kim Beazley MP. In February 2002, he rejoined the Department of Defence as an Assistant Secretary in the Corporate Services and Infrastructure Group (now Defence Support Group). In March 2004, he was promoted to the position of Head Infrastructure. In July 2004, he was transferred into the newly formed role of Chief Of Staff Australian Defence Headquarters and Head of Coordination and Public Affairs Division. Between February 2008 and May 2009 he led the Defence White Paper team and was also the principal author of the 2009 Defence White Paper. Mr Pezzullo has a BA (Hons) in History from Sydney University. He enjoys being with his family, cricket and rugby league, and reading (anything on military history, international relations, intelligence, and political biography for starters).

http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?action=post;num=1457474879;virboard=;quote=11;title=PostReply

hes just stating fact. all the emotional wrist wringing  and over hysterical shrieking about this issue wont change the facts.

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 9^th, 2016 at 10:51am:

A place of indefinite detention, sadistic guards, daily humiliation of detainees, all costing $Bns.

This is just emotional, slanderous pathetic nonsense, you should be ashamed of yourself.

ian wrote on Mar 9^th, 2016 at 10:53am:

Its time wrote on Mar 9th, 2016 at 9:23am: Immigration Boss Liberal mouthpiece says all is good , geez what a revelation  ::) Pezullo is far for a Liberal mouthpiece Quote: Mr Pezzullo joined the Department of Defence as a graduate in 1987. He worked in Defence until 1992 in a variety of strategic policy and intelligence positions. He then transferred to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, where he worked in the International Division. In March 1993, he joined the staff of the Foreign Minister, Senator the Hon Gareth Evans QC. He remained in Parliament House until December 2001, including serving five years as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Kim Beazley MP. In February 2002, he rejoined the Department of Defence as an Assistant Secretary in the Corporate Services and Infrastructure Group (now Defence Support Group). In March 2004, he was promoted to the position of Head Infrastructure. In July 2004, he was transferred into the newly formed role of Chief Of Staff Australian Defence Headquarters and Head of Coordination and Public Affairs Division. Between February 2008 and May 2009 he led the Defence White Paper team and was also the principal author of the 2009 Defence White Paper. Mr Pezzullo has a BA (Hons) in History from Sydney University. He enjoys being with his family, cricket and rugby league, and reading (anything on military history, international relations, intelligence, and political biography for starters). http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?action=post;num=1457474879;virboard=;quote=11;title=PostReply hes just stating fact. all the emotional wrist wringing  and over hysterical shrieking about this issue wont change the facts.

I wasn't going to say anything to leftwingnutjob about Pezzullo not being a Liberal mouthpiece. In fact, I think it's the first time he's spoken publicly like this.

ian wrote on Mar 9^th, 2016 at 10:54am:

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 9th, 2016 at 10:51am: A place of indefinite detention, sadistic guards, daily humiliation of detainees, all costing $Bns. This is just emotional, slanderous pathetic nonsense, you should be ashamed of yourself.

The sad thing is that Jovial is proud of his/her stupidity.

The information that comes out of those camps shows the camps are places of indefinite detention, gulags of humilitation, people going out of their minds with the fact they are stuck in a camp, can’t work, don’t know when/if they will be released etc etc.

Some may want to turn their backs on this and pretend it isn’t happening but I do not care about those moral cowards.

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 9^th, 2016 at 11:02am:

The information that comes out of those camps shows the camps are places of indefinite detention, gulags of humilitation, people going out of their minds with the fact they are stuck in a camp, can’t work, don’t know when/if they will be released etc etc. Some may want to turn their backs on this and pretend it isn’t happening but I do not care about those moral cowards.

No one is forcing them to stay there. They can go back home any time they wish. As for your insistence on wrongly calling them gulags, look up the definition of a gulag. They were primarily forced labour camps. None of the detainees in Australian detention centres are forced to do any manual labour. Please cease to call detention centres gulags because you're just making a total asshat out of yourself. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulag

Poor old Armpit, can’t face the reality of what his beloved Neoconservative party is doing so quibbles about definitions. Moral coward!

The gulags should be closed!

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 9^th, 2016 at 11:02am:

The information that comes out of those camps shows the camps are places of indefinite detention, gulags of humilitation, people going out of their minds with the fact they are stuck in a camp, can’t work, don’t know when/if they will be released etc etc. Some may want to turn their backs on this and pretend it isn’t happening but I do not care about those moral cowards.

The definition of moral cowardice would be to slander people doing a very difficult job from behind a keyboard  without knowing the facts.

ian wrote on Mar 9^th, 2016 at 11:17am:

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 9th, 2016 at 11:02am: The information that comes out of those camps shows the camps are places of indefinite detention, gulags of humilitation, people going out of their minds with the fact they are stuck in a camp, can’t work, don’t know when/if they will be released etc etc. Some may want to turn their backs on this and pretend it isn’t happening but I do not care about those moral cowards. The definition of moral cowardice would be to slander people doing a very difficult job from behind a keyboard  without knowing the facts.

The facts are pretty clear. The rest is just moral cowardice.

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 9^th, 2016 at 11:18am:

ian wrote on Mar 9th, 2016 at 11:17am: Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 9th, 2016 at 11:02am: The information that comes out of those camps shows the camps are places of indefinite detention, gulags of humilitation, people going out of their minds with the fact they are stuck in a camp, can’t work, don’t know when/if they will be released etc etc. Some may want to turn their backs on this and pretend it isn’t happening but I do not care about those moral cowards. The definition of moral cowardice would be to slander people doing a very difficult job from behind a keyboard  without knowing the facts. The facts are pretty clear. The rest is just moral cowardice.

Yes, the facts are clear. your refuse to accept them instead relying on a mish mash of lies, innuendo and outright slander.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Mar 9^th, 2016 at 10:57am:

ian wrote on Mar 9th, 2016 at 10:54am: Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 9th, 2016 at 10:51am: A place of indefinite detention, sadistic guards, daily humiliation of detainees, all costing $Bns. This is just emotional, slanderous pathetic nonsense, you should be ashamed of yourself. The sad thing is that Jovial is proud of his/her stupidity.

The detention centres are effective.

What other options are there ?
Let the illegals run riot in our society, raping at will ?