Pontville forgotten as Liberals go for Port Moresby

Labor’s Spokesperson for Multicultural Affairs, Madeleine Ogilvie, has criticised the decision to build a new detention facility near Port Moresby, calling it a missed opportunity.

“The Federal Government, in yet another display of short term thinking, has chosen to spend yet more money on offshore detention instead of supporting regional Australia,” Ms Ogilvie said.

“We have an opportunity to bring people from the detention islands to a re-opened Pontville Reception Centre.

“Building yet another multi-million dollar facility off-shore leaves us in no doubt as to the Abbott Government’s priorities.

“Providing a compassionate response to asylum seekers is clearly not a priority for this government. Supporting jobs and economic activity in Tasmania is clearly not a priority for this government.

“As we move into the Christmas period we see rolling job losses at state and federal level, we see a government that does not care about people.

“Let’s be clear. There is no refugee invasion. Instead refugees are being used as human collateral in a large scale Liberal Government political play aimed at retaining power through fear. We cannot buy our way out of our human rights obligations.

“The Federal Government is completely out of step with public opinion.”
Madeleine Ogilvie MP Labor Spokesperson for Multicultural Affairs