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FIELDING SAYS THINGS ON CHRISTMAS ISLAND LOOK PRETTY GOOD

Press Releases January 29 2010

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Facilities on Christmas Island are pretty good and look more like a motel than a detention centre according to Family First Leader Senator Steve Fielding who is currently inspecting the island.

Detention Centre Conditions:

“The problem Australia has got is that we’re seen as a soft touch for those who want to jump the queue and immigrate,” Senator Fielding said.

“I don’t think it’s fair that people are putting their own lives at risk and jumping the queue by coming to Christmas Island because they know they will be resettled in Australia within just three months.

“This kind of system is hardly reasonable because those people who have waited patiently for many years in refugee camps to get into Australia have now had their place taken by a queue jumper from Christmas Island.

“Detainees on the island get good accommodation, great food, phone and internet access, and then within three months get a gold pass to live in Australia.

“This is better treatment than many Australians get from the government.

“There’s no doubt the good conditions on Christmas Island and the generous nature of Australians has created a huge ‘pull factor’ which has seen a massive surge in boat people.

“We need a policy that discourages people smugglers from profiting on human trafficking and removes the incentives for people to jump the queue.”

Asylum seeker protests:

Senator Fielding says the Rudd Government is now paying for its band-aid solution to asylum seekers after it did a deal with those on board the Oceanic Viking.

The comments come as detainees on Christmas Island have started protesting against visa processing times.

“The PM set a dangerous precedent doing a deal with those who were on board the Oceanic Viking and now people on Christmas Island are trying to get a similar a deal,” Senator Fielding said.