(1/10) Any entry level democracy in recession would dial down their expensive addiction to pricey island detention centres. But not Australia. (thread) #auspol
(2/10) As PM wouldn't you just cut up Peter Dutton's credit card and say no? "You can't have the full 'My lil Azkaban' set because we need groceries". But no. Not Australia. And apparently not Scott Morrison.
(3/10) Last night's #Budget2020 includes a spend of another $55m on Christmas Island. Over $180m has already been spent on that centre in the last year, but the largesse has not incl giving the #hometobilo kids their own beds. A family of 4 have had to share a bed for 13 months.
(4/10) But wait, there's more. Last night we learnt over $1 billion is budgeted for offshore detention in the next 2 years. Offshore doesn't include Christmas Island by the way. Offshore means Manus and Nauru.
(5/10) So why wouldn't Australia just accept NZ's longstanding offer to take those refugees left offshore? It would save Australia a much needed $1 billion, and as a gesture of goodwill why not just pay for the travel & quarantining of those being relocated (saved)?
(6/10) Just like that it could be over. But you can't say that to an addict can you? So here we are. Billions of $ later. Dutton will insist Christmas Island is needed to house the WORST criminals. Hot tip: that's what prisons are for!
(7/10) Instead of actually processing refugees and imprisoning criminals, you keep locking up people who have served their time or failed some vague character tests and asked for asylum. This is a really expensive hobby, but I guess you've gone pro now.
(8/10) There are too many examples of how obscene the financial cost of all this is so here's just one. This asylum seeker man was released last week after being detained for 11 years. theguardian.com/australia-news…
(9/10) By the most conservative estimate it cost the Australian public a minimum of $3.8 million to detain this man and for what? He didn't even shoes to wear when he was shifted between centres. His lawyer had to buy him some.
(10/10) Effectively he served 11 years because he asked for asylum in Australia. You do less time for murder.
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