The Wire

Immigration and Citizenship Minister Chris Bowen suggested today that asylum seekers should be allowed to volunteer their efforts in flood-ravaged Queensland while their claims for refugee status are being assessed. Minister Bowen says it would be an opportunity for the detainees to learn skills while their claims are being processed, as well as being very useful as Queensland mops up after the disaster. CEO of The Refugee Council of Australia, Paul Power says the idea actually came from detainees themselves and that he thinks its a good idea.