Detainee Inquest Told Of Tight Budget
The Age
Thursday July 24, 2003
Lack of resources under a ``tight" Federal Government contract influenced the handling of events surrounding the death of a detention centre inmate, a psychiatry expert told an inquest yesterday.
Forensic psychiatry professor Paul Mullen also questioned the approach of Maribyrnong Detention Centre staff during an eight-hour stand-off with the detainee in 2000.
Coroner Phil Byrne is investigating the death of Viliami Tanginoa, 53, who either fell or jumped to his death from a basketball ring pole at the detention centre on December 22, 2000.
Mr Tanginoa, who had been in detention for four months, had overstayed his three-month tourist visa by 17 years.
His application for a refugee visa in 1994 was refused and subsequent appeals rejected.
He spent eight hours on top of the pole before he fell to the concrete on the day he was to be deported.
Professor Mullen, clinical director of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health, criticised the Immigration Department for not providing adequate resources to the centre's operators, Australasian Correctional Management, under a ``tight contract".
``The real issue was, where was the plan, where was the structure, where were the people who had the training and the ability to carry out that structured plan?" Professor Mullen said.
He told the Melbourne Coroners Court that as soon as Mr Tanginoa climbed the pole, staff should have identified that he was at risk of commit-ting suicide or inflicting self-harm.
Centre staff told the inquest that Mr Tanginoa never gave any indication he was going to jump.
The hearing continues.
© 2003 The Age