Leslie Massey
The number of asylum seekers dying while attempting to reach Australia is a significant issue. While there are no official records kept by the Australian government, it is estimated that nearly 1000 asylum seekers have died en route to Australia in the past decade, with 27 deaths occurring in Australian detention centres in the past 12 years. The rising number of deaths at sea is occurring amidst a backdrop of increasing humanitarian crises and protracted conflicts worldwide. The Australian government has stated that it has stopped boats from arriving in Australia, but this claim is disputed by reports from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which found that more people than ever are taking to the seas in search of asylum.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of asylum seekers died trying to reach Australia | Nearly 1000 in the past decade |
| Number of asylum seekers died in Australian detention centres | 27 in the past 12 years |
| Number of asylum seekers died of suicide in immigration detention | 11 |
| Number of asylum seekers died trying to reach Australia by boat | 946 since 2000; 609 since October 2009; 1200 during the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd years; 600 between 2009 and 2013 |
| Number of asylum seekers died trying to reach Australia by boat (including children) | 4000 in 2014 |
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What You'll Learn
At least 1200 asylum seekers drowned at sea between 2009 and 2013
Australia has a contentious history of asylum seekers attempting to enter the country by boat. Asylum seekers opt for boats because Australia operates a universal visa system, which makes it difficult for people from certain countries to enter by plane with a valid visa. The country's asylum policy is a highly debated issue in Australian politics, with the two major political parties arguing that it is a matter of border control and the safety of those attempting to enter the country by boat.
The number of asylum seekers dying at sea has been a significant concern in Australia. According to the Australian Border Deaths Database, around 900 asylum seekers drowned between 2008 and July 2013. The New York Times reported that over 600 asylum seekers died en route to Australian territory between 2009 and 2013. In 2015, Senator George Brandis stated that at least 1200 people, including hundreds of children, had perished at sea. This figure was also acknowledged by a spokesperson for Mr Dutton, who referred to it as the number of refugees who drowned under the Labor government.
The rising number of deaths at sea is a global issue, with humanitarian crises becoming protracted. The tragedy near and in Australian shores is reflected in other parts of the world, often with even greater numbers of fatalities. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that in 2014, an estimated 350,000 people took to the seas in search of asylum, and over 4000 individuals, including children, did not survive these journeys.
Additionally, there have been concerns about deaths in Australian detention centres. According to Border Crossing Observatory data, 27 people died in such facilities in the past 12 years, and the actual number of deaths may be higher due to a lack of official records.
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Hundreds of children were among the dead
Australia has a contentious history of asylum seeker policies, with mandatory detention and offshore processing of asylum seekers who arrive without valid visas. The country's strict border controls have resulted in tragic consequences, with a significant number of asylum seekers losing their lives while attempting to reach Australia by sea.
The dangers of these journeys have been highlighted by various sources, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In 2014, the UNHCR reported that an estimated 350,000 people took to the seas globally in search of asylum, with over 4,000 individuals, including hundreds of children, perishing during their journeys. This issue is not unique to Australia, as the rising number of deaths at sea coincides with protracted humanitarian crises and increasing border controls worldwide.
In the specific context of Australia, the number of asylum seeker deaths is difficult to pinpoint due to a lack of official records. However, according to Border Crossing Observatory data, nearly 1,000 asylum seekers are estimated to have died en route to Australia in the past decade, with 27 deaths occurring in Australian detention centres in the past 12 years. These numbers may even be higher, as warned by Monash University criminologist Sharon Pickering.
The Australian government has faced scrutiny for its handling of asylum seeker arrivals. During the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd years, it was reported that at least 1,200 people drowned at sea, a figure that included hundreds of children. Between 2009 and 2013, over 600 asylum seekers lost their lives while attempting the journey to Australia. The dismantling of effective border protection policies during this period resulted in an influx of maritime arrivals, contributing to the tragic loss of life.
The impact of these policies extends beyond the direct loss of life. Australia's immigration detention system has faced criticism for its high numbers, with approximately 5,000 people housed in the past 12 months. The lack of official oversight and robust reporting mechanisms for deaths in custody further complicates the situation, hindering the ability to prevent future tragedies.
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27 people died in Australian detention centres in 12 years
Australia has long been a destination for asylum seekers, with the number of people displaced from their homes almost tripling from 41 million to 117.3 million in the past decade. The journey to Australia is often treacherous, and the number of refugee deaths at sea is on the rise internationally.
While there are no exact figures, it is estimated that at least 1200 people, including hundreds of children, have perished at sea. The Australian Border Deaths Database estimates that around 900 asylum seekers drowned between 2008 and July 2013. Since 2000, an estimated 946 people have died while attempting to reach Australia by boat, with 609 deaths occurring since October 2009.
In addition to the dangers faced at sea, asylum seekers also face risks once they reach Australia. There have been reports of violence, drugs, and overcrowding in Australia's immigration detention centres. Detainees have reported assaults, and there have been concerns raised about the safety of these facilities. According to the Department of Home Affairs' annual report, there were four deaths inside Australia's immigration detention system in 2020-21. The report also highlighted other issues, including escapes, major disturbances, sexual assaults, and acts of self-harm.
The human costs of prolonged detention are profound, and the average period of detention in Australia is now at a record 700 days, up from 100 days in 2014. The lengthy detention periods have led to concerns about the mental and physical health of those detained, with reports of self-harm and a sense of hopelessness among detainees. The Australian government has faced criticism for the conditions in its immigration detention centres and the impact of prolonged detention on asylum seekers.
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11 people died by suicide in immigration detention
Australia has a mandatory immigration detention policy, which applies to all 'unlawful non-citizens' and has been in place for over 25 years. This policy has been applied to asylum seekers arriving by boat, and the country's offshore immigration detention facilities have attracted a lot of attention due to their detention conditions, remote locations, and impact on the mental health of detainees.
The impact of immigration detention on asylum seekers has been studied, with research highlighting the exceptionally high rates of self-harm among detained asylum seekers compared to the general Australian population. Between 1 August 2014 and 31 July 2015, there were 560 self-harm episodes among asylum seekers in Australian onshore immigration detention. The rates of self-harm in immigration detention facilities were 187 to 376 times higher than the hospital-treated rates of self-harm in the general Australian community during the same period. The three most frequently reported methods of self-harm were cutting, self-battery, and attempted hanging.
The high rates of hanging observed among asylum seekers in immigration detention are of particular concern, as research has established a strong association between hanging and an elevated risk of suicide. While the Australian Border Deaths Database reports three suicides by asylum seekers during the study period, all of whom were living in the Australian community, the high rates of self-harm and hanging in detention warrant urgent attention and highlight the deleterious impact of the immigration detention system on the mental health of asylum seekers.
The limited systematic research into self-harm among the Australian asylum seeker population is due to the lack of accessible data. However, the available findings clearly point to the negative impact of immigration detention, with detained asylum seekers being at an increased risk of self-harm, and the type of detention exacerbating this risk.
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The number of refugee deaths at sea is rising globally
The rising number of deaths at sea coincides with an increasing number of people being displaced from their homes. In the past decade, the number of displaced people has almost tripled, from 41 million to 117.3 million. This means that 1 in 69 people are now forcibly displaced, up from 1 in 159 in 2010.
The specific number of asylum seekers who have died attempting to reach Australia is difficult to determine, as no official records are kept by the Australian government. However, estimates suggest that nearly 1,000 asylum seekers have died en route to Australia in the past decade, with 27 deaths occurring in Australian detention centres in the past 12 years.
The issue of asylum seekers and refugee deaths is highly politicised in Australia. The Abbott government's "Stop the boats" slogan, for example, contributed to their electoral victory in 2013. Australia's mandatory detention and offshore processing of asylum seekers who arrive without valid visas have also been criticised as being detrimental to the well-being of refugees.
The rising number of refugee deaths at sea is a tragic consequence of the increasing number of humanitarian crises and protracted conflicts worldwide. It is important for policymakers and academics to examine the relationship between border controls and refugee deaths to develop effective prevention strategies.
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Frequently asked questions
According to Border Crossing Observatory data, nearly 1000 asylum seekers have died trying to reach Australia by boat in the past decade. The New York Times reported that over 600 asylum seekers died en route to Australian territory between 2009 and 2013. The Australian Border Deaths Database estimates that around 900 asylum seekers drowned between 2008 and July 2013.
According to publicly available information, 27 people have died in Australian detention centres in the past 12 years, 11 of whom died by suicide. However, it is important to note that there is no official record-keeping by a government agency, so the numbers could be higher.
The rising number of asylum seeker deaths in Australia is occurring amidst a backdrop of protracted humanitarian crises globally. The Australian government's strict border control policies, such as mandatory detention and offshore processing, have also been criticised for failing to provide durable solutions for asylum seekers, especially those arriving by boat.
