There are calls for the Pontville detention centre to be reopened permanently, so Tasmania can process more asylum seekers in the community. Picture: Sean Fennessy Source: The Daily Telegraph
- The Pontville detention centre closed in March
- Call for it to reopen under a different operating model
- "We should be telling the Government to send them here"
TASMANIA should be allowed to reopen its arms to asylum seekers, human rights advocates say.
As politicians in Canberra squabble over the best way to deal with the asylum seeker crisis, advocates say Tasmania is the perfect place to process them.
The tragic drowning of asylum seekers during the past week has intensified calls for the Pontville detention centre to be reopened permanently, so Tasmania can process more asylum seekers in the community.
Brighton Mayor Tony Foster yesterday called for the centre, which closed in March after six months, to open again under a different operating model.
"Let's make it a processing centre with people coming and going as they please, returning at night," Mr Foster said.
"Let's look at a new way for the future and let Pontville show we can do it in a whole new way."
Unions Tasmania boss Kevin Harkins said yesterday asylum seekers should be brought to the state to help boost the economy and offer a safe, humane processing option for hundreds of boat people seeking refuge in Australia.
"We should be telling the Federal Government to send them here, have them processed in a reasonable amount of time and those that don't meet the criteria can be sent back," he said.
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