17 May 2011 in Media
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen must immediately rule out expanding the Inverbrackie detention facility beyond its current capacity.
After announcing the facility in October last year, Minister Bowen made a commitment to the community that the facility would accommodate no more than 400 asylum seekers.
On ABC radio last year, in response to a question about expanding the facility, he said: “No, no, no. I’ve said 400 families and that’d be the maximum.”
But last night, Channel 7 News in Adelaide revealed that the Immigration Department has “backtracked on the detail” and said “that number’s flexible.”
Today, The Advertiser has reports that the facility could be expanded, and revealed new transportable buildings have been delivered.
Following these revelations, Minister Bowen needs to reassure the local community and categorically rule out any future plans to increase the facility’s current capacity.
Any plans to expand the facility would be a further breach of his commitments to the local community.