(1) Why have up to 80 detainees at Woomera Detention Centre, many of whom are victims of extreme levels of persecution in their homelands, become distressed enough to violently protest and cause severe damage to the complex.

(2) What is the average length of time these protesting refugees have spent in mandatory detention.

(3) In light of these protests, and the public demonstrations that occurred in detention centres all over the country, does he recognise a growing movement of public disenchantment with the Government's policies of mandatory detention.

(1) I am not in a position to state, categorically, what was in the mind of the detainees and what motivated them to riot recently at Woomera. I can advise, however, that various reasons have been suggested to me. These reasons include the gap between misinformation provided to these people by people smugglers and the reality of what Australian law requires with respect to the treatment of unauthorised arrivals; detainees being unhappy about the length of time it is taking to carry out the necessary identification, health and security checks to process their applications; and those detainees, who have been screened out during the assessment process, not wanting to return home.

(2) The process of identifying those involved in the riot at the Woomera IRPC is continuing. I am advised that, as of 8 September 2000, of the 7 against whom charges have been laid:

. 3 arrived in November 1999;

. 3 arrived in February 2000; and

. 1 arrived in March 2000.

Of the 22 persons currently being held at the Adelaide Remand Centre:

. 2 arrived in November 1999;

. 2 arrived in January 2000;

. 17 arrived in February 2000; and

. 1 arrived in April 2000.

(3) The requirement for unauthorised arrivals to be detained arises from a law passed by the Parliament in 1992. The policy rationale for the law is to ensure the availability for processing of persons who arrive in Australia having circumvented usual immigration visa requirements. I am aware that some persons and groups in the community oppose the current law, but also note very strong widespread community support for it. Many people have also expressed their abhorrence of the actions undertaken by detainees involved in rioting at the Woomera IRPC.