Tracing the pressure that led to an extraordinary, explosive riot on Christmas Island, through the story of someone who was there and the story as told in the official records.

Immigration Detention is one of the most controversial areas of Australia’s political landscape. The treatment of asylum seekers provokes seemingly endless rhetoric, hostility and the fear, but rarely do the voters see inside of these mysterious facilities. The centres are largely shielded from public scrutiny, and journalists who try to penetrate this culture of secrecy are generally denied access.

A TGM Special Feature

It’s an ugly truth: Australians are fatigued by the debate about how the country should deal with asylum seekers arriving by boat.

Some are outraged that asylum seekers are locked in detention centres, even seeing it as a violation of human rights. Others feel the mandatory detention system is still not tough enough, encouraging more people to risk dangerous boat trips rather than stay in refugee camps overseas.

Following revelations that easily spread asbestos remained unaddressed at Villawood, the NSW Police Association is threatening to ban officers from  the controversial detention centre.

Reports of dangerous asbestos contamination, revealed under Freedom of Information, show hazards have not been addressed at Villawood, the nation’s largest mainland detention centre.