No mince pies for Christmas Island detainees

December 23 2009 by Liam Clifford

Christmas doesn't look merry for the 1300+ Australian immigration detainees on Christmas Island.

Christmas has been cancelled on Christmas Island this year. The Australian Government’s immigration policy has resulted in the holding centre on the island being at over maximum capacity.

There are now approximately 1300 refugees being housed at the detention facility, the numbers meaning that asylum seekers are now being accommodated in makeshift tents before the rushed arrival of demountable huts.

This follows a report from Amnesty International refugee co-ordinator, Graham Thom that the centre was breaching Human Rights laws and should be closed.

The Australian Government maintains the policy of detaining asylum seekers in search of Australian visas and permanent residence without any clear policy to justify their decision. The only argument submitted in defence of the Australian immigration precautions is that it deters other asylum seekers.

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