The Wire

In recent years the so called “flood” of asylum seekers arriving n Australia’s shores has dwindled to a trickle. So its not surprising that moves by the Department of Immigration to build a new detention facility at Christmas Island, which is outside Australia’s migration zone, have raised eyebrows. This year the government has made some efforts to cut back some of the more repressive elements of its detention regime, releasing children from detention and allowing more asylum seekers to live outside of detention. But the moves to build the new facility have raised concerns that the department is not serious about reforming the cultural problems that exist within the organization. Federal opposition parties such as the Greens and Democrats have also criticized the decision to build the facility, especially given that Australia’s detention centres are virtually empty – with only one quarter of the country’s total capacity to hold detainees currently being used. And incidentally, the new facility is reported to be bitterly opposed by local residents on Christmas Island. This report by Erica Vowles begins with comments from Democrats Senator Andrew Bartlett, giving his party’s reaction to the move.