Some deemed “low-risk” have been transferred to a low-security facility near Hobart.

nineMSN [read this story]

The government said it has not plans to expand the centre to accommodate  more detainees.

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Barry Haase MHR

Barry Haase MHR has commented on the drowning of hundreds of asylum seekers when their boat sank.

“The Prime Minister must be held accountable for these deaths,” he said.

You can read his statement here:

18 December 2011

Mr Barry Haase, Federal Member for Durack’s reaction to the news that a boat carrying hundreds of asylum seekers from the Middle East has sunk in heavy seas off east Java was one of horror.

“One can only assume these people were making the treacherous journey in an attempt to get to Australia. Reports are sketchy at this stage with the number of people reportedly on board varying between 250 and 380. Some are saying 76 have been rescued but others are reporting the number of survivors as low as 33” said Mr Haase.

“The Prime Minister must be held accountable for these deaths. Ms Gillard’s embracing of the Green’s onshore processing policy has in effect thrown down the welcome mat to asylum seekers. This is the most dangerous time of the year to be boarding a leaky boat, yet no one in government seems to care”, said Mr Haase.”

“Last week’s arrival with 102 people on board brings the December figure for arrivals to 794 making this the busiest December on record for boat arrivals.

A week ago there were 359 places left on Christmas Island. Since then, 440 people have turned up, and they still keep coming.”

“Lives are being lost, families destroyed and the wallets of the people smugglers are getting fatter every day this government is in power. The Prime Minister must take a stand against Bob Brown and his cronies and restore a proven border protection policy. When a government sends out an invitation to asylum seekers such as the one the Labor Government has sent, they must expect an avalanche of arrivals and those gaining the profits from smuggling people have no concern for their welfare.” said Mr Haase.

Barry Haase MHR

Local member Barry Haase remains unimpressed with the government’s handling of asylum seekers.

“Such is the high expectation for failure of this Prime Minister that it surprises me that the nation does not rise in unison and clap each time Ms Gillard manages to cross the road unharmed,” he said.

You can read his statement here:

Barry Haase

Federal Member Durack

With so many bad government policies eroding public confidence we are dangerously close to becoming so complacent that we will reward mediocrity.

Such is the high expectation for failure of this Prime Minister that it surprises me that the nation does not rise in unison and clap each time Ms Gillard manages to cross the road unharmed.

No longer should this government be charged with simple contributory negligence, their culpability in the asylum seekers crisis is such that they should be charged with negligence.

The largest boat ever under Julia Gillard’s watch arrived in the second week of December with 167 people on board. Since August 2008, when Labor started unravelling the effective border protection policies of the Howard Government the total number of economic opportunists to have arrived has risen to an alarming

14 171 on 266 boats.

Since 13 October last, when the government chose to abandon offshore processing legislation 20 boats have arrived carrying 1474 people.

These figures are a great cause for concern especially given there was no problem with porous borders under the Howard Government. There were just 4 people in detention when Prime Minister Howard left office and we currently have 5 500 in the detention network across Australia costing tax payers in excess of a billion dollars a year.

As confirmed at Labor’s recent national conference the Labor party has now adopted an onshore release policy for asylum seekers. This is a clear indication that to gain the support of the Green’s party Labor has totally embraced the Green’s policy on immigration.

The latest changes will allow illegal boat arrivals to live in our communities, to work, to receive government payments, access our health services and use our tax dollars to fund appeals in our court system, regardless of whether they are refugees.

The current government’s justification for these ludicrous changes is their belief that boat arrivals should be treated in the same way as those who arrive by plane.

Unlike the case of plane arrivals they forget we don’t know who is on the boats; quite conveniently almost 9 out of 10 boat arrivals have no documentation, it having been deliberately disposed of. Those who arrive on planes have documentation and have been granted visas. Economic opportunists who arrive on boats are 20 times more likely to be given a negative security assessment compared to those who enter by plane.

We have a queue of 100,000 legitimate refugees urgently requiring immediate resettlement and we have many homeless Australians. Should we not be helping our own and those who have done the right thing and gone down the legal path of entry into Australia?

ABC [read this story]

Elsia Archer said there are only 20 police stationed in Derby.

ABC [read this story]

The West Australian [read this story]

The West Australian [read this story]

The woman was found unconscious early yesterday morning.

ABC [read this story]

Bishop Chris Saunders described the facility as a “chamber of horrors”.

The West Australian [read this story]

Last night he told the ABC Four Corners program it is the centre he would close first if he could.

ABC [read this story]