Warren Entsch (Leichhardt, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I refer to the government’s claim prior to and during the election that asylum seekers will not be housed at RAAF Base Scherger, nor would an immigration detention centre be built at RAAF Base Scherger. Now that the government has announced that RAAF Base Scherger will be used as a detention centre, how can anybody believe any promise made by this government?

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for his question and obviously acknowledge that he would be concerned about this as a local member but I think we should be a little bit clear about the facts. What has been announced by the government is that the base he refers to will be used for short-term accommodation, while longer term options are investigated. The decision to make use of Scherger in that way was announced by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship on 17 September. I am sure he would also acknowledge that works were not in progress and steps were not being taken during the election campaign—that is simply not correct. I understand that the member would be concerned about circumstances in his local electorate. I am sure that the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship will brief him, as a local member with such an interest, if he cares to get such a briefing.