Inside Villawood: The story behind the story

3 Feb 2012, 2:38 pm   -   By: Marion Ives
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All too often the images we see of Villawood Detention Centre are of protesters both outside and inside the centre. (AAP)

All too often the images we see of Villawood Detention Centre are of protesters both outside and inside the centre. (AAP)

SBS reporter Marion Ives knew it wouldn't be easy to get permission to take a camera inside Villawood Detention Centre. Here's the story behind her story, Inside Villawood.

Protests on rooftops, burnt down buildings, high wire fencing and hunger strikes are the aspects of Immigration Detention Centres that the Australian public usually hears about. That’s because these incidents make the most emotive headlines for newspapers and pictures for television news. It’s also because the high wire fences and layers of security don’t just keep detainees from getting out, but prevent the media from getting inside for the whole story.

To get a better idea of the situation, journalists are forced to rely on information from activists, social workers and detainees with mobile phones to add to the limited information that the Immigration Department releases. Getting cameras and recording devices inside Immigration Detention Centres has been impossible for a long time.

I first heard about the success of the volunteer music program inside Villawood Detention Centre last September.  Volunteer programs have come and gone at the centre for decades, but I understood this to be one of the few remaining, and even increasing in size. It’s a very different picture from the usually distressing images we see.

I put in a request to the Immigration Department’s media unit to be granted entry into Villawood for the story. That one email opened a minefield.

In my career as a television journalist, I have always felt privileged to have access to places and events that the general Australian public does not have. Often special media passes are required with proof of identity and employment. Gaining access to Villawood was far more restrictive than anything I have ever experienced before in this country.

Almost four months after my initial request, I was given a time and date for my visit to Villawood. The head of the Immigration Media unit Sandi Logan was to be present along with other departmental representatives. However, it was on the condition that SBS signed a contract beforehand.

The ‘Media Deed of Agreement’ required that no detainee be identified, even if they were willing. It stated that all footage had to be scrutinised by the Immigration Department.  The Immigration Department was to have the final say in whether images and audio were to be deleted or faces blurred, using an 80s editing technique called pixellation. SBS protested against these restrictive conditions, but was eventually forced into signing the Agreement, in order to do the story.

At Villawood, my cameraman and I were met by no less than four bureaucrats to escort us. Mobile phones were not allowed inside. I was reminded by Sandi Logan that no detainee could be identified. He said this was in part because the detainee could potentially use it to change the nature of their claim. I was also not permitted to interview or ask questions of detainees nor write their answers on a notepad. The longest conversation I managed to have with a Villawood detainee, before they were ushered out of the room, was two minutes of supervised chit-chat. We were only taken to the parts of the centre relevant to the music program. The rest of our footage had to be filmed through wire fences. The music teacher was guarded in what he could say on camera for fear it might jeopardise his classes in future. I understand volunteers also have to sign a highly restrictive contract. For their part, the Immigration Department had coordinated the delivery of donated pianos to coincide with my visit.

This was to be a story about one volunteer’s efforts to improve the mental state of people in challenging situations by sharing his love of music. It should have been an opportunity for Serco and the Immigration Department to reveal a very different side of their controversial detention centres. However, because my access to the full story was restricted, I was once again forced to seek further information from outside sources like activists, social workers and former detainees.

 

The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance has a petition asking Federal Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris Bowen to allow journalists to report properly on asylum seekers. 

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MS.

MAUREEN WALSH - from SYDNEY, 3 months ago

Like Andrew from Perth this segment filled me with delight. Music is a universal language. Not only can it help to pass the time for the detainees, give hope and healing but also provide a more peaceful environment for all involved, staff and detainess.I would like to know how I could get in contact with the gentleman running the program so that maybe we could get enough instruments donated and volunteer musicians to run such programs in as many of the detention centres as possible.

Detention centres= abuse of human rights

AC - from Newtown, 4 months ago

Refugees are not criminals and it is not illegal to come to Australia as a refugee. Some of the comments on here are really shocking. Refugees have already suffered enough and deserve to be treated humanly. There is no reason why they could not live in the community whilst waiting for their case to be heard as it is done in many countries. The fact that journalists have restricted access is a clear indication that the government does not want the world to see what is going on.

really?

jk - from Brisbane, 4 months ago

Are they raped? Are they starving? Are they dehydrated? Are they denied medical care? Are they whipped? Are they locked in small cages and made to sleep on the floor? NO.. They are taken on day trips to theme parks, shopping, bowling..they have cigarettes, computers, mobile phones.They have free medical care, including dentistry. What human rights abuse???

Mr.

Andrew - from Perth, 4 months ago

I am 26 years old and generally considered a "Tough Guy" by my friends and associates but this news story made me cry. I want to know how I can donate some guitar strings and sheet music. If this can prevent even one suicide attempt I beleive that the program is worthwhile. I was especially disgusted to hear that the arts program had been shutdown after a public showing of the paintings drawings and sculptures. Does freedom of speech and expression not apply if the images are too disturbing?

Campaigning journalism

Sandi Logan NatComms Mngr DIAC - from Canberra, 4 months ago

Another example of "hidden" agenda journalism, regrettably. And for good measure, let's encourage visitors to this page to sign a petition. What a disappointment SBS-TV; no different to any other cheap shots we've seen elsewhere in the media landscape.

budvv

Marty - from perth, 4 months ago

These people are in Australia illegally. The authorities have deemed them a risk. Enough said. You don't know the whole circumstances behind their detention so how can you comment?

What's the point

Marilyn Shepherd - from Angaston, 4 months ago

Not one pollie in the last 20 years has ever presented any rational explanation why we have to jail completely innocent human beings in maximum security prisons just because they asked us for help. We must be the stupidest country in the world. The reason for restrictions is to keep up the pretence that they are criminals.

Mr

Pat - from Sydney, 4 months ago

Everyone is missing the big point here, detention centres like this were setup for people coming on flights bringing drugs, contraband and explosives and guns, also people not renewing or over staying their visas, there are a plethora of other reasons why people are in these detention centres, just not because they came here on a boat and have claimed Asylum. Chris Bowen MP said on QandA ABC show some two years ago, "Its not the boat people you have to worry about, it the 72,000 over stayed visas each year that occurs". Isn't it logical in this type of matter, of over stayed visas that have a chance in this matter to plead their case, to a court that will hear them, which warrants a detention centre where claims can be processed quickly. If any Australian travelled to another country they would have a next to impossible time getting clearance, without ID or a passport and visa. Anyone that has travelled to Indonesia they will find its a relaxed civil life and quite cheap for living standards. My suggestion is that these "boat people" are in fact "Queue jumpers" or people that have something to hide. For the price of bringing one person to Australia you can rent a house and feed yourself for 6months awaiting the checks from your UNHCR visa applications. Yes in Jakarta the UNHCR has a 6 month back log of processing visas. But no for some reason they would rather throw away all their ID and passports and risk their lives and their families lives but not keep their ID and passports, strange and dangerous situation they have put this nation in.

Mr

Joe - from Sydney, 4 months ago

It's tragic people are held in detention but the asylum seekers know the consequences beforehand. Why should the boat crew go to jail and the asylum seekers get citizenship. If they make it safe to Indonesia why do they not make application from there. What about people born in refugee camps who have no money and miss their turn because the asylum seekers believe they are better. What about their unlimited cash that is paid each time an attempt was made with some trying more than three times.

nobody cares

jj - from Brisbane, 4 months ago

These people are treated better than any criminals... Human abuse?? yeah right.. They are living in luxury. If they don't like their treatment, they are welcome to go back to where they came from.

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