Scott Morrison frolicking on Christmas Island, Bill Shorten says

Bill Shorten has attacked the PM’s historic visit to the island, where a high-security detention centre will house refugees.

Scott Morrison is due to arrive on Christmas Island today. Picture: AAP

Bill Shorten says Scott Morrison’s “frolicking on Christmas Island” is a waste of money and a distraction from the economy.

Nearly 60 refugees considered to be threats to community safety — including an alleged murderer, accused paedophiles and terrorist sympathisers — will be placed in high-security detention on Christmas Island if they are medically evacuated from Papua New Guinea and Nauru.

The Prime Minister, the first sitting Australian leader to visit Christmas Island, will soon land on the island and visit the re-opened detention facility if the weather permits it.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten. Picture: AAP

Mr Shorten told the Australian Financial Review’s business summit today the trip was a “marketing campaign.”

“Frolicking on Christmas Island, what a waste of money,” he said in Sydney today.

“We find out they’ve cut the Border Force funding and then we’ve got a marketing campaign.

“It’s desperate stuff because the economy is right here.”

The medivac bill, which was supported by Labor, the Greens and most of the crossbench, has left the government unable to block the transfer of refugees and ­asylum-seekers who are considered to be dangerous but are not ­subject to an adverse ASIO ­assessment and have not been sentenced to more than 12 months’ imprisonment.