‘Appalling’: Australian link to ‘floating prison’ in UK

A controversial barge likened to a “floating prison” for asylum seekers in the UK has an “appalling” link back to Australia.

A general view of the Bibby Stockholm immigration barge on August 8, 2023 in Portland, England. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

It’s been likened to a ‘floating prison’ and now a barge docked in the UK is housing its first group of asylum seekers, under the government’s latest controversial immigration policy.

The Bibby Stockholm, docked off the southwest English coast, accepted the first of up to 500 young men on Monday, who are living on the 222-cabin barge as they await the outcome of their asylum applications.

In what has been branded an “appalling” tie to Australia, the barge is part of the UK government’s latest plan to “stop the boats”, following a surge in cross-Channel arrivals aboard small boats in recent years.

Greens NSW Senator David Shoebridge has condemned the policy as a “repeat of the divisive and toxic slogans” of former Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Coalition government in Australia.

“This is a floating prison barge designed to limit the rights of asylum seekers in the UK. And it is appallingly modelled on the brutal Australian precedent,” Senator Shoebridge told news.com.au.

“This is a clear indication of what the Greens have feared would happen for decades – Australia’s toxic rhetoric and its toxic response to asylum seekers would be exported around the world … I would urge my UK counterparts to say no to that kind of toxic politics.”

A general view of the Bibby Stockholm immigration barge on August 8, 2023 in Portland, England. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Condemning the barge as a vessel “designed to limit” asylum seekers’ rights, Shoebridge said the Bibby Stockholm sends a “physical message to people that the UK is not a safe place to seek asylum”.

He also called out CTM, a global travel company which has headquarters in Australia, that manages the accommodation, transport logistics and meals on the barge.

“These are shameful exports from Australia that our government should publicly call out,” he said.

Life on the barge, which features an on-site nurse, and canteen and recreational facilities, has so far been met with mixed reviews, with one asylum seeker telling BBC it is “quite a nice place” with “tidy rooms”, while another said it felt like “entering Alcatraz prison”.

Rights advocates have also hit out at the barge, deeming it unfit for purpose.

Bunk beds inside one of the bedrooms onboard the Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge. Picture: Andrew Matthews/POOL/AFP

Steve Valdez-Symonds of Amnesty International UK branded the vessel “a shameful way to house people who’ve fled terror, conflict and persecution”.

It was previously used by Germany and the Netherlands to house homeless people and asylum-seekers, but opponents in Britain have noted it was previously described as an “oppressive environment”.

The firefighters’ union last week called for an urgent meeting with the interior ministry over safety concerns raised, but officials said it passed all necessary checks.

The doctor's room onboard the Bibby Stockholm accommodation. Picture: Andrew Matthews – Pool/Getty Images

The galley area onboard the Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge. Picture: Andrew Matthews – Pool/Getty Images

The UK government, which is trying to lower the costs of housing asylum seekers, has insisted the barge provides suitable accommodation.

Britain’s asylum system backlog had increased to more than 130,000 by the end of March. The cost to house those applicants and other migrant arrivals has spiralled to more than £6 million (nearly A$12 million) a day, according to officials, as they resort to using hotels and other temporary accommodation.

“The government thinks it is right to find alternatives that are cheaper and more cost effective,” PrimeMinister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman told reporters Monday.

“We think this is one alternative.” Sunak’s government is also seeking to deter migrants through a new “illegal migration” law, enacted last month, which bars asylum claims by all arrivals via the Channel and other “illegal” routes.

Five things I'm doing to stop the boats👇 pic.twitter.com/X5q2hfUE3X

— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) August 7, 2023

The United Nations’ refugee agency has condemned the new rules as a “breach of international law” and warned it would expose refugees to “grave risks”.

Sunak’s spokesman said the UK leader remains committed to his pledge to “stop the boats”.

“That’s the long-term aim of the Rwanda migration partnership and the new legal powers the government has sought,” he said.

– With AFP.