Christmas Island gets detention centre

A permanent immigration detention centre will be built on Christmas Island, Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock announced today.

He said the centre would be for reception and the processing of asylum seekers.

"This reinforces the message that mandatory detention is firmly government policy," Mr Ruddock said.

Mr Ruddock told journalists it was anticipated the first stage of the centre, which would house 400 people, would be built within six months.

The centre would have a maximum capacity of 1,200 people and would be completed by the end of the year.

The cost of the facility is still being determined.

While there had been no new boat arrivals in the past four months, Mr Ruddock said the new facility was a contingency plan.

Mr Ruddock also rejected suggestions that the recent lack of new arrivals had been a reflection of the weather and the cyclone season.

Over the same four-month period in 1999/00, he said there had been 2,611 arrivals, while a year ago the number of arrivals was 1,312.

"We think there has been a very significant change in the situation as a result of all of the measures that we have put in place," Mr Ruddock said.

"(But) it's not a time to relax and say the battle is won - we think it is important to plan for all eventualities."

Mr Ruddock said there was no information to suggest there were any asylum seekers on the way to Australia.

"At the moment we have no information to suggest there are any people on the water, looking to get on the water, any boats that are being particularly planned," he said.

With the construction of the centre on Christmas Island - now excised from Australia's Migration Zone - new boat people would be unable to apply for a visa and would be processed under offshore arrangements.

"One of the significant factors associated with that is that, of course, access to the attenuated, expensive and time-consuming appeals system (is limited)," he said.

The minister said the new facility did not signal the end of the government's so-called Pacific solution for asylum seekers.

"The Pacific solution at the moment has further accommodation of something in the order of 600-700 places," he said.

But Mr Ruddock confirmed about 24 detainees - who had no asylum claims - would be removed from Pacific solution countries.

He said the Christmas Island community would be consulted on the location of the centre, which was expected to create jobs and attract investment to the island.


	Government News Index site index HOME Christmas Island gets detention centre March 12 2002 A permanent immigration detention centre will be built on Christmas Island, Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock announced today. He said the centre would be for reception and the processing of asylum seekers. "This reinforces the message that mandatory detention is firmly government policy," Mr Ruddock said. Mr Ruddock told journalists it was anticipated the first stage of the centre, which would house 400 people, would be built within six months. The centre would have a maximum capacity of 1,200 people and would be completed by the end of the year. The cost of the facility is still being determined. While there had been no new boat arrivals in the past four months, Mr Ruddock said the new facility was a contingency plan. Mr Ruddock also rejected suggestions that the recent lack of new arrivals had been a reflection of the weather and the cyclone season. Over the same four-month period in 1999/00, he said there had been 2,611 arrivals, while a year ago the number of arrivals was 1,312. "We think there has been a very significant change in the situation as a result of all of the measures that we have put in place," Mr Ruddock said. "(But) it's not a time to relax and say the battle is won - we think it is important to plan for all eventualities." Mr Ruddock said there was no information to suggest there were any asylum seekers on the way to Australia. "At the moment we have no information to suggest there are any people on the water, looking to get on the water, any boats that are being particularly planned," he said. With the construction of the centre on Christmas Island - now excised from Australia's Migration Zone - new boat people would be unable to apply for a visa and would be processed under offshore arrangements. "One of the significant factors associated with that is that, of course, access to the attenuated, expensive and time-consuming appeals system (is limited)," he said. The minister said the new facility did not signal the end of the government's so-called Pacific solution for asylum seekers. "The Pacific solution at the moment has further accommodation of something in the order of 600-700 places," he said. But Mr Ruddock confirmed about 24 detainees - who had no asylum claims - would be removed from Pacific solution countries. He said the Christmas Island community would be consulted on the location of the centre, which was expected to create jobs and attract investment to the island. AAP The Age Index