Australia’s Curtin reopened for detention
April 19, 2010 02:00 am
The Federal Government will reopen a mothballed immigration
detention centre in remote north-western
Immigration Minister Chris Evans said yesterday the Curtin Air Force Base would be used to house asylum seekers affected by the decision to suspend processing of newly arrived Sri Lankans and Afghans for three and six months.
The base is about 40 kilometres south-west of
But Senator Evans said yesterday it would be upgraded in coming weeks to provide accommodation for up to 300 single males.
“It makes sense for the government to manage this group of asylum seekers in one secure location and the Curtin facility is well placed to provide this accommodation,” he said.
Criticism came immediately. The Refugee Council of Australia’s chief executive, Paul Power, said the centre - in one of the country’s most remote places - had been notorious. “This population of asylum seekers will include torture and trauma survivors and services for them will be nigh on impossible to deliver,” Mr Power said.
“There is next to nothing there. Why on earth would you choose to reopen Curtin … when there are more credible, humane and effective approaches?”
David Manne, director of the Refugee and Immigration Legal
Centre in
Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said the decision showed the Rudd government’s border protection policies had failed.
Yesterday, an airplane’s mechanical problems delayed plans
to send about 70 asylum seekers from
Senator Evans said he instructed his department to ensure
that appropriate services were available for asylum seekers whose claims were
suspended from processing. “We will not leave people isolated and we will
invest in upgrading the facilities so they are suitable for this group.” - (The
Age,