Two New Zealanders and a man from Fiji are facing charges in Australia, after an assault at a Sydney immigration detention facility.Australian Federal Police were called to the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre following the Thursday attack.They said the 26-year-old Fijian approached another man and began to strike him, as he entered a common area at the facility.The two New Zealand men, aged 37 and 24, then entered the same room. Police said they also kicked and struck the victim several times, before attempting to restrain him.Australian Border Force officers made initial inquiries, before referring the matter to police for further investigation.The trio were arrested at the detention centre early Friday and taken to Cabramatta Police Station.They appeared at Fairfield Local Court that day, each charged with one count of affray and one of assault causing actual bodily harm.All three men were remanded in custody and will re-appear at the court in a fortnight.The victim received medical treatment at the detention centre, before being transported to Auburn Hospital. He was later discharged and taken back to the immigration facility.Safety concerns at VillawoodConditions at the detention centre have previously been in the spotlight.Earlier this month, it was the subject of a scathing review by the watchdog responsible for inspecting federal detention places in Australia, the Commonwealth National Preventive Mechanism.The report, which followed an inspection in March, found "serious and systemic concerns about the safety, security, maintenance and overall operation of the facility".It said the facility security situation was ineffectively managed, with both staff and detainees reporting concerns about their safety.Some detainees even slept outside sleeping areas, which the report said was due to a range of reasons, including intimidation by other people and concerns about safety.It also found insufficient staffing, and limited interaction between staff and detainees, which it said would mitigate security risks and reduce the likelihood of incidents occurring.The Department of Home Affairs told Australia's nine.com.au the government welcomed the report, and said some of the matters identified had already been remedied or were currently being addressed.
New Zealanders charged after assault at Sydney immigration detention facility
Two New Zealanders and a man from Fiji are facing charges in Australia, after an assault at a Sydney immigration detention facility.







