Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation detainees storm through Broadmeadows detention centre

Guards fled a Broadmeadows detention centre after immigration detainees broke through fences for an hours-long protest on the roof.

Detainees staged a protest at the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation complex in Broadmeadows on Boxing Day.

Immigration detainees holed up in a detention centre in Melbourne’s north staged a major protest on Sunday night, breaking through fencing and demonstrating on the roofs of their compounds.

All guards – including the “emergency response team” – withdrew from two compounds within Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation (MITA) North in Broadmeadows on Boxing Day, leaving detainees in control.

Detainees from the compounds beat down the fences separating them about 8pm, according to activist organisation Refugee Action Coalition (RAC).

They then began to demonstrate on the roofs of the compounds for at least four hours.

The Herald Sun understands the men were protesting against the ban on visitors, which they claimed was a form of punishment by the Australian Border Force.

Despite a Covid-safe visiting area being built inside MITA, visits have been banned since July.

A Victoria Police spokesman said all detainees returned to their rooms after the protest and no injuries were reported.

“Police responded to reports of a disturbance at MITA in Broadmeadows shortly after 8pm on Boxing Day,” the spokesman said.

“Victoria Police assisted the facility provider and ABF to deal with the disturbance.”

RAC spokesman Ian Rintoul said MITA should be closed.

“Detainees have the right to be treated as human beings,” Mr Rintoul said.

“Many of the detainees have families in the community who could safely accommodate them; instead they are separated from them – putting their mental and physical health at greater risk.”

The detention centre, located close to Melbourne Airport, is split into two main complexes.

MITA North, made up of four compounds, is a high-security complex used to detain adult men.

Border Force officers must detain unlawful non-citizens who have arrived without a valid visa, with a cancelled visa or an expired visa.

An Australian Border Force spokesperson said “standard protocols” were followed during the protest.

“The ABF is aware of a disturbance at the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation (MITA), where there were a number of detainees on a roof,” the spokesperson said.

“The ABF acknowledges that people are entitled to express their views through lawful and democratic means such as peaceful assembly.

“There is no tolerance for any protest activity that is violent or aggressive and places detainees, staff or others at risk of harm.”

They said the detainees continued to have access to their family, friends, legal representatives and others through “phone calls, Skype or other audiovisual tools”.

“The ABF has facilitated contact by providing detainees with phone credit each week to assist them in maintaining contact with their community based support networks,” they said.

“At the MITA this allowance has been doubled in the lead up to the Christmas/New Year holiday period.”