News.com.au
June 28, 2009 05:19pm
THE Federal Government has disputed suggestions its Christmas Island detention facility is nearly full as about 200 more asylum seekers head to the island.
The 194 asylum seekers are heading to the centre after the navy picked up the suspected illegal-entry vessel off Christmas Island today.
It is the 15th boatload of suspected asylum seekers intercepted in Australian waters this year and is believed to be the biggest group of arrivals since 2001.
Almost all the passengers are adult men, with two or three women on board but no children.
It is not known where the people have come from.
"Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O'Connor, said the interception of the vessel showed border protection was working."
You bone head, O'Connor, you are supposed to send them back to whence they came,NOT invite them in, this is the fifteenth bloody boatload this year you dope.
Whilst your Dear Leader Kevin 07 continues full speed ahead in his war against prosperity, you and that arse clown immigration Minister,are ensuring that as many illegals as possible are able to walk in the door totally unhindered whenever they want.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans said facilities on Christmas Island - which can accommodate 1,200 in total - could adequately cater for the 479 asylum seekers currently on the island, as well as the new arrivals.
The detention centre alone holds 800 people.
"There are a number of facilities on Christmas Island to accommodate unauthorised boat arrivals including a secure detention centre and community housing," he said in a statement.
"Children and, where possible their families, are not held in immigration detention centres."
The opposition again raised concerns that the Rudd government's border protection policies may be encouraging more people to come to Australia by boat to seek asylum.
Opposition customs spokeswoman Sussan Ley reiterated her call for an independent inquiry into why more people were arriving.
"We've raised serious concerns in the opposition that it is softening of border protection policies,'' Ms Ley said.
"That is what all the messages are indicating strongly."
The Rudd government has taken a more humanitarian approach to border protection, softening mandatory detention rules and abolishing temporary visas for asylum seekers.
Ms Ley said facilities at Christmas Island were already "stretched to capacity''.
"Nearly 200 more people on board coming to Christmas Island is seriously going to stretch the resources and the capacity of the Christmas Island detention centre and the island generally," she said.
Ms Ley also said she was "extremely worried'' about safety, given the large number of people on board the vessel.
Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O'Connor, said the interception of the vessel showed border protection was working.
"The Australian government is committed to strong border security arrangements and is determined to deal effectively and appropriately with people smugglers," Mr O'Connor said.
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