Fed: Government won't force centre on unwilling community

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Fed: Government won't force centre on unwilling community

CANBERRA, April 5 AAP - The federal government would not push a new immigration detentioncentre on an unwilling Brisbane community, Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock said today.

Mr Ruddock said it was expected the new centre proposed for the industrial suburb ofPinkenba, near Brisbane Airport, would mainly handle unauthorised air arrivals and visitorswho overstayed their visas.

He said a key consideration was to minimise the substantial cost of housing and transportingdetainees.

"I have said that we are not about pushing those proposals on an unwilling community,"

he told reporters.

"If there is overwhelming community resistance throughout Brisbane to this site beingused, that is a factor that we will take into account. There are other offers."

Mr Ruddock said the Pinkenba site was chosen because it was commonwealth property inan industrial area several kilometres from the nearest residents.

He said it was also close to Brisbane Airport, where people were frequently detained.

"If we are to see further boat arrivals, the expectations is that we will see themin the north-west of Western Australia," he said.

"The fact is that we have now gone for five months without any boats from Indonesiabecause of the government's determination to deal with these issues."

Mr Ruddock said there had been expressions of interest from private companies and publicorganisations, such as the Australian Protective Service, to run the proposed Pinkenbacentre.

"It depends on how we get the best value for money in terms of awarding that contract," he said.

AAP mb/daw/lasB

KEYWORD: BOAT CENTRE RUDDOCK