Media Release - Bolkus bells the cat on Bowen's failure - Thursday 11 November 2010

Former Labor Immigration Minister has belled the cat today on the Labor Government’s ill thought through decision to establish a detention facility at Inverbrackie.

Nick Bolkus reveals this morning that when he was the Immigration Minister he rejected the proposal. He says:

“but my attitude was that Villawood was not a success and any location so close to town, for a whole number of reasons, I wouldn't support, so my officers got the message, very clearly” (The Advertiser, 11 November 2010)

This highlights why Chris Bowen should today agree with our proposal for a Parliamentary Committee prior to this facility going ahead.

I again call for the Minister to release publicly the full list of sites considered by the Government prior to selecting Inverbrackie as a new detention facility.

The Prime Minister and the Minister should listen first to the Woodside community and at least attempt to answer the many questions they have before moving ahead with this proposal.

Questions relating to the impact on schools and plans for catastrophic bushfire days remain unanswered.

Labor stalwart Nick Bolkus has added his voice to the concerns of Labor Premier Mike Rann and the Woodside community.

It is time for Prime Minister Gillard and Minister Bowen to front up to the community, agree to the Parliamentary enquiry and delay the building of this facility until these questions have been satisfactorily answered.

The community deserves a voice.