Incidentally, the article that Senator Andrew Bartlett cites as being the reason Anna’s situation was discovered, makes harrowing reading:

[www.theage.com.au]

International efforts are being made to establish the identity of a young German woman held at Baxter detention centre in circumstances that have angered refugee advocates.

Other Baxter detainees drew attention to the woman after becoming concerned about her welfare. They believe she may be mentally ill.

“Anna” has been at Baxter, in South Australia, for nearly three months after north Queensland police handed her over to immigration officials in November.

…

She has been locked in a Baxter isolation cell for 18 hours a day, according to refugee advocates. “They (detainees) believe that she is mentally ill. Her unpredictable and bizarre behaviour, lack of communication and distress continue to worry them,” said Pamela Curr of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Melbourne.

“She exhibits psychotic symptoms, screaming and talking to herself at times, and screams in terror often for long periods especially when locked in the cell.”

The woman is allowed out for six hours a day. “Such is her terror of being put back into this cell that it takes six guards in full riot gear to manhandle her back into the room and close the heavy door,” Ms Curr said.

Visitors have been unable to get a response from her. Refugee advocates say the woman clearly needs psychiatric care rather than incarceration.

But under the Migration Act no one is allowed to act on her behalf unless she requests it in writing. She has now been persuaded to do this.

…so refugees who cannot write, for one reason or the other, cannot get help? That’s clever…