No vacancies at Christmas Island
March 22 2010 by Liam Clifford
Australia’s opposition party have again taken a swipe at the government’s Australian immigration policy and their detention of asylum seekers.
The shadow minister for Australian immigration, Scott Morrison, spoke over the weekend to say that it was ‘inevitable’ that prisoners being held at the detention centre on Christmas Island would now be transferred onto the mainland. This is following a gradual increase of detainees on the island, which was originally only intended to hold 400 people.
18 more asylum seekers were added to the swelling numbers late on Sunday, as they were picked up just off the Australian shoreline. This adds to the number of 2004 detainees currently being held on the island, the capacity of which is 2040.
The upward spiral of detainees on the island has been attempted to be dealt with by the Rudd government, however, the centre has gradually failed to handle all the new arrivals. Just before New Year emergency tents were erected to handle some of the new arrivals, this had the effect of increasing capacity; however, even now this is not adequate.
The Australian immigration detention centre now has a reported 14 beds left, with things not looking as though they are going to improve anytime soon, as it was also confirmed that a promised 400 new beds will now not be available.
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