One immigration officer conducts a short interview to screen asylum seekers in or out. The interviewing officer will sit down with the asylum seeker, in person or via teleconference. Sometimes a translator is present, sometimes on a phone line. A previous template of the interview from April 2013 shows that the officer will say the following words:

“Because you arrived in Australia without a visa you are an unlawful non-citizen and do not have an automatic right to remain in Australia. Therefore a finding is to be made as to whether you have a valid reason to be allowed to remain in Australia. The purpose of this interview is to inform that finding by collecting information about you and your reasons for coming to Australia.

“If on the basis of the information that you provide or is otherwise available to the Australian government it is found that you should be allowed to remain in Australia, then you will be advised about how your case will proceed in due course.”

Then come the questions: “What are your reasons for coming to Australia? Do you have any other reasons for coming to Australia? Would you like to add anything else?”

If the detainee does not raise a red flag by saying they want to seek asylum because they fear persecution, or if the interviewing officer does not believe them, they can be screened out and deported. While a review can take place, Guardian Australia’s analysis shows the department’s records don’t always show that a review has happened.