No detainees - but a huge cost blow-out
Yuko Narushima; 4/7/08
The Federal Government’s upgrade to the empty detention centre on Christmas Island cost $318 million - considerably more than the recent renovation of the Sydney Hilton and $120 million over budget. The revamp on the tropical island 2650 kilometres north-west of Perth was meant to cost $197.7 million for the “humane detention” of boat people offshore. But since it was handed over to the Department of Immigration in April, the 800-person compound has not held a single detainee and lies staffed and idle, draining taxpayers of $7.1 million a year.
Tags: Australia, Refugees & Migrants