Indian student dies in Maribyrnong immigration detention

Indian student dies in Maribyrnong immigration detention

According to documents obtained by Fairfax Media, the
Australian government had to pay nearly $7 million for breaches of duty
of care, including mental health claims, of asylum seekers held in
detention centres since 1999.



Of the 150 claims lodged for negligence or breach of statutory duty, 102 were closed and had cost the government $6.92 million.



The average amount of money per payout was $45,520, the documents showed.



Louise Newman, a professor of developmental
psychiatry at Monash University, said the environment of the
detention centres, particularly in Nauru and Manus Island, fostered
mental illnesses.



''It is highly predictable,'' Professor Newman said.
''We are setting up the circumstances [that will] lead to an increase
in disorders, depression and suicide.''



Human rights lawyer Greg Barns said detention was
''inherently stressful'' and asked if the signs for mental strain were
being picked up by centre staff. ''The environment itself is creating
the illness,'' he said.