Australian Government Closes Major Immigration Detention Centres

Canberra: The Australian government on Wednesday announced the closure of two onshore immigration detention facilities, saying its efforts to stop people seeking asylum by boat has reduced the number of people in detention. In a move that the government claimed as a win for its tough border protection policies, Immigration Minister David Coleman said that Maribyrnong in Melbourne and Villawood in Sydney would be closed.

They mark the 18th and 19th immigration detention centres closed by this government during its two terms in power. There are approximately 1,250 people currently in Australia’s eight remaining immigration detention centres, down from 10,200 in mid-2013, SBS News reported. “The government has stopped the boats, got the children out of detention and closed the once-full immigration detention facilities,” Coleman said in a statement. Maribyrnong was closed immediately after the remaining 107 detainees were transferred while Villawood will be shut down by the middle on 2019. (IANS)

Also Read: INTERNATIONAL