By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
CANBERRA, Australia – As the number of boats carrying asylum seekers to Australia continues to rise, questions have been raised over the Government’s immigration and border protection policies.
Over the last two days alone, two boats were intercepted by authorities, who subsequently brought the individuals to the detention center at Christmas Island.
Christmas Island has itself been the subject of much scrutiny recently. Australian newspapers have recently been reporting that the number of detainees on Christmas Island will double, reaching approximately 5,000 by 2014. Many believe that if this were to happen, Christmas Island would become similar to a penal colony. However, the Government has stated that these figures are inaccurate.
These reports have placed pressure on the Government to clarify just how many asylum seekers it plans to house at the facility.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd denies reports that the Government plans to increase the capacity of the immigration detention center at Christmas Island. He has indicated that the detention center at Christmas Island can currently hold approximately 2,040 detainees. Currently, the Government has plans to expand the facility’s capacity to 2,300 individuals. It began construction on an addition to the main detention center’s facility, which would house an additional 400 beds.
Despite the Government’s insistence that there are no plans to double the size of the detention center, opposition immigration officials believe that the government still needs clarify its plans. The detention center is having problems accommodating the number of asylum seekers that are currently housed there.
The opposition claims that Christmas Island originally was built to house approximately 1,200 detainees at the most.
Approximately 400 asylum seekers arrive each month while only 100 leave. On average, an asylum seeker could spend between 100 and 110 days at the facility.
Many of the asylum seekers have arrived illegally by boat. This year alone, the navy has intercepted eighteen boats carrying asylum seekers.
In order to save on the costs of running Christmas Island, some individuals recommend that immigrants be processed on Australia’s mainland. This year’s budget for operations is expected to cost between $280 and $300 million.
For more information please see:
ABC News – Rudd shoots down detention centre report – 07 March 2010
Brisbane Times – Two asylum seeker boats intercepted – 07 March 2010
ABC News – Christmas Island detainee population to double: report – 06 March 2010
The West Australian – Govt quiet on Christmas Island detention – 06 March 2010
