Christmas Island detention centre shut down
THE notorious Christmas Island detention centre has been shut down and the last remaining inmates transferred to mainland Australia, the federal government has confirmed.
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THE notorious Christmas Island detention centre has been shut down and the last remaining inmates transferred to mainland Australia, the federal government confirmed on Thursday night.
The last 35 detainees left the island — which is around 1550km northwest of the West Australian coast — on Sunday and the complex put into “contingency” mode.
The island was the scene of a mass tragedy in 2010, when 50 asylum seekers drowned when their boat sank after hitting rocks near Flying Fish Cove.
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At its peak in 2010 about 2400 asylum seekers resided in North West Point Immigration Detention Centre, when the then Labor government was inundated with boat arrivals.
In 2015 the situation in the centre was described as a “powder keg” when it housed many dangerous criminals who had appealed their deportation from Australia.
The government said at the time the “hardening” population reflected its use as a holding centre for detainees with a serious criminal past and those deemed by agencies including ASIO to have a significant security concern, including outlaw motorcycle gangsters, murderers, rapists, armed robbers and paedophiles.
Immigration Minister David Coleman said in a statement on Thursday night the centre would be kept in a state of operational readiness so it can be reopened at short notice if needed.
“This is another example of the Coalition Government cleaning up Labor’s mess,” Mr Coleman said.
“This Government has stopped the boats, stopped the evil people smuggling trade and removed those children from detention.”
The Coalition Government pledged before the last election to close 17 detention centres, including Christmas Island.
During the Rudd-Gillard governments from 2007 to 2013, about 50,000 people arrived on 800 boats to Australia’s shores.
It is estimated about 1200 people drowned at sea and 8000 children were put in detention.
At its peak in July 2013, there were more than 10,000 people in held immigration detention, including 2000 children.
Mr Coleman said the North West Point centre was one of many immigration detention facilities that have closed or been put into contingency since September 2013.
“The decision to close these facilities has led to savings of more than $500 million,” Mr Coleman said.