Regular visitors to Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation in Broadmeadows have expressed concerns about new security measures.
Serco, the firm contracted to run the detention centre, recently advised visitors of a revised set of entry conditions.
They include filling out an application form on the day of the visit and calling between 9am and 1pm the day before visiting to book in a specific time.
Refugee advocate Patrick Walsh, who regularly visits detainees, labelled the new rules as punitive.
He said visitors had turned up on the day of their intended visit only tobe turned away and told there was no record of their call or booking.
“One of my biggest concerns about these new rules is that we have to call between 9am and 1pm the day before, but the detainees don’t get their medical appointment times until 6pm the night before,” he said.
Mr Walsh said Serco has also limited detainee visits into the community to temples and other religious venues, while pat-downs had been ramped up.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Immigration and Border Protection said the new system was brought in to ensure the Broadmeadows detention centre’s rules were consistent with other immigration facilities around the country.
“The conditions for visiting an immigration detention facility are frequently reviewed to ensure safety of visitors and detainees and to maintain the security of the centre,” she said.
The Refugee Action Collective held a vigil in protest against the new visitor restrictions on May 20 outside the Camp Road facility.
Mr Walsh said about 30 peaceful protesters attended despite the cold and rain, but he questioned whether it helped relay their message.
“It’s like hitting your head against the wall,” he said.
“Did Serco listen? Probably not.”
The department spokeswoman said there had been 3139 visitors to the facility in the past three months.
