Newly released cabinet documents have revealed the lengths the Howard government went to as it sought to build a centre on Christmas Island.
The then Government was determined to continue its policy of offshore processing and boat turn-backs.A decision to build an offshore detention centre on Christmas Island was fast-tracked despiteThe papers, released to the public on Sunday, reveal the Coalition's commitment to keeping so-called illegal asylum seekers from the Australian mainland, central to its policy of mandatory detention.
Despite this, the then-Coalition government - led by prime minister John Howard - was determined to proceed.John Howard's government feared more boat arrivals were imminent after the Tampa refugee crisis of 2001.Why these asylum seekers are warning the UK not to copy Australia's offshore processing system
“With the Pacific Solution, the [Howard] government had locked onto a strategy that was politically successful for it, it won an election on it,” he said. “It would result in easy access between unauthorised arrivals, the media, and advocacy groups,” he wrote. The Treasury expressed concern about the “significant increase” while the Department of Finance withdrew its support for the proposal and called for the project to be suspended pending a short review.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Love Island to ask contestants to stop social media for their own protectionIslanders will have to suspend accounts while in villa, as part of ITV show’s duty of care overhaul
Read more »
Australians stranded on Pacific island after engine issue grounds planePassengers onboard a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles will spend their New Year’s Eve in the middle of the Pacific after their plane was diverted halfway through its journey to Sydney.
Read more »
Australians stranded on Pacific island after engine issue grounds planePassengers onboard a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Sydney will be spending their New Year’s Eve in the middle of the Pacific after their plane was forced to make an emergency landing on Saturday morning.
Read more »
Australians stranded on Pacific island after engine issue grounds planePassengers onboard a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles will spend their New Year’s Eve in the middle of the Pacific after their plane was diverted halfway through its journey to Sydney.
Read more »
Terry's home flooded on Christmas Day, and many downstream face the same fateThe town of Morgan remains on high alert as peak flood waters make their way down the River Murray, in South Australia's Riverland.
Read more »
Family of WA parents killed in Christmas Day car crash thanks truckie who stopped to helpThe family of the couple killed on Christmas Day in Western Australia thanks a truck driver who helped and comforted the relative who discovered the horrific scene.
Read more »