China has formally expressed 'grave concern' to Australia over the death of a Chinese national who took her own life in a Melbourne immigration detention centre, just hours after authorities were warned she had a history of self-harm and suicidal ideation. The Chinese embassy confirmed it has 'lodged solemn representations' with the Australian government, marking a rare public intervention from Australia's largest trading partner.
Death Raises Monitoring Questions
The woman, a Chinese citizen in her mid-30s, was found hanging in her room at the Broadmeadows residential precinct of the Melbourne immigration detention centre on the morning of 10 July. She had been detained the previous day for allegedly overstaying an English-language studies visa and had no criminal history. Internal documents seen by Guardian Australia reveal that Australian Border Force (ABF) transferred her to Secure Journeys on the afternoon of 9 July, explicitly informing the contractor that she had previously attempted self-harm and had 'recently thought about self-harm/suicide'.
The death has raised serious questions about whether the detainee was properly monitored and whether she was placed in an appropriate room given her state of mind. Victoria Police are investigating the death, which they described as non-suspicious, and the coroner's court has directed police to prepare a brief of evidence.
China's Diplomatic Intervention
In a statement, a Chinese embassy spokesperson said: 'China will closely follow the case and safeguard the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens.' The intervention comes as the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, faces mounting pressure over a string of security lapses involving Secure Journeys, a subsidiary of US-based prison multinational Management and Training Corporation (MTC).
Prof James Laurenceson, director of the Australia-China Relations Institute, described the embassy's statement as 'firm but not excessive'. He noted that Australia and China have exchanged terse diplomatic statements recently over various issues, but added: 'I am not convinced that China's statement in this case should be interpreted as some sort of diplomatic slap back for Australian complaints about Chinese actions in other contexts.'
Wider Security Failures
The Guardian previously revealed that a series of failures allowed the escape of high-risk detainees, caused ill-equipped staff to be stabbed and hospitalised, and triggered multiple investigations. One investigation warned that MTC's 'minimalist staffing model' was putting workers and detainees at risk. In September 2025, Burke took the extraordinary step of summoning MTC's global president for a face-to-face dressing down, just six months after the company was awarded the $2.3bn onshore immigration detention contract.
Parliamentary records show there were 360 reported incidents of threatened and actual self-harm across Australia's onshore immigration detention network between July 2025 and March 2026, with at least two deaths this year. The federal work safety regulator Comcare has established a dedicated inspection program, citing an 'increase in notifiable incidents, the severity and the profile of the reported incidents involving the contractor'. Comcare privately warned the department of numerous reports of 'serious injury or illness to both workers and others (detainees)', 'self-harm ideations and death involving detainees', and 'detainee on detainee violence'.
Understaffing and Risk Assessment Concerns
Comcare has expressed concerns that the risk-assessment system used in the centres is not effective, putting staff and detainees at risk. Understaffing has been a key issue since MTC took over, with a March report by the National Preventive Mechanism, an independent monitor, reporting that 'critically' low staffing levels were compromising safety. The understaffing has also caused seriously ill detainees to miss medical appointments due to a lack of escort workers.
A Secure Journeys spokesperson offered 'deep condolences to the family and friends of the female detainee' but declined to comment further due to the ongoing investigation. The Department of Home Affairs also offered sincere condolences, citing privacy obligations and the ongoing investigation. The department has not commented on the specific circumstances of the death.
This incident adds to the growing scrutiny of MTC's performance, with multiple investigations underway and a series of public criticisms from the home affairs minister. The case highlights the challenges and risks associated with privatised immigration detention, particularly in managing vulnerable detainees with mental health concerns.
