Newest detention centre near Darwin 'unfit for humans'

THE nation's newest detention centre, 35km southeast of Darwin, is unfit for humans, according to refugee advocates.

THE nation's newest detention centre, located near a mosquito-infested swamp 35km southeast of Darwin, is unfit for humans, according to refugee advocates.

The first stage of the 1500-bed detention centre has been built to house up to 500 asylum-seekers from next week, placing it six months behind schedule.

Access was granted to the media yesterday ahead of the arrival of the first detainees.

Asylum-seekers Support and Advocacy Network spokesman Rohan Thwaites said asylum-seekers from Darwin's Northern Immigration Detention Centre would be moved to the detention centre from Monday.

"There's nothing to suggest that Wickham Point will be any better than the current Darwin detention centre," Mr Thwaites said.

"It's harder for the outside community to visit the centre, leaving detainees vulnerable to isolation and depression.

"The centre is located in an area that has previously been found by the NT government to be unsuitable for habitation due to a large number of mosquitoes that could carry disease.

"Their demountables are similar to those at the NIDC and we all know how much of a humanitarian disaster that has been -- the number of suicide attempts this year can be counted in the hundreds."

Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said Wickham Point demonstrated the government was not serious about shifting asylum-seekers into the community. He said he was concerned the two-storey structure could increase the risk of suicide by hanging.

There are 1961 maritime arrivals in detention centres in Australia and Christmas Island and a further 1291 people living in community detention.