A significant number of families and children will be progressively moved out of immigration detention centres and into the community, under changes announced by the Federal Government today.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard also announced the Government would create two new detention facilities - one near Perth, the other near Adelaide - and identified two existing centres - in Darwin and Melbourne - that could be expanded if needed.
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said the Government would work with church and community groups to house people in the community across the country, in places such as unused aged-care facilities.
He expected most unaccompanied children and a substantial number of families would be in the community by June.
Mr Bowen said it would still be necessary for children and families to be held in detention initially for checks and while places were found for them in the community.
The Government would place conditions, such as curfews, requirements to live at a certain address and obligations to check in regularly with authorities, while asylum seekers' claims were being processed.
Ms Gillard said the two new facilities would be at Northam in Western Australia and Inverbrackie in South Australia.
``The Northam site is situated approximately 80km north-east of Perth and will be used to accommodate up to 1500 single adult males,'' Ms Gillard said.
``The Inverbrackie facility, located near the Woodside Army Barracks, 37km north of Adelaide, will accommodate up 400 people, consisting of family groups.
``The Government has also identified contingency sites that may be developed in the future, should further capacity be required. These are the use of the 11 Mile Antenna Farm outside Darwin and the further expansion of the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation.''
Ms Gillard said the new centres would allow the Government to stop using temporary accommodation, such as the tents being used on Christmas Island.
She said the Government alone had decided on the changes and they were not part of a deal with any other parties.
For more on this story, see the print edition of tomorrow's Canberra Times.
Source: The Canberra Times
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