NSW: Villawood accommodation better than many homes: Vanstone

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2006
NSW: Villawood accommodation better than many homes: Vanstone

By Paul Carter

SYDNEY, Aug 1 AAP - A new accommodation wing at Sydney's Villawood detention centre
provides better housing than many Australians enjoy, says Immigration Minister Amanda
Vanstone.

The senator opened the $5.4 million wing today, saying it provides a positive home-like
environment to "store" up to 40 detainees.

Senator Vanstone also announced a new reward points scheme for immigration inmates
across Australia.

The accommodation wing opened at Villawood today is for low-risk detainees and women
and children awaiting identification processing.

The eight duplex units - each with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and two loungerooms
- have been kitted out with modern appliances, including wide-screen televisions and stereos.

There's a table tennis table and barbecue in the covered entertaining area, which also
features a television and stereo.

The entire area - including a shaded pergola - is set aside from the main detention
centre and is surrounded by landscaped gardens and security fencing.

One immigration department staffer touring the site today was overheard saying: "If
you weren't deprived of your liberty, then this would be a nice a place to live."

Senator Vanstone said: "There are a lot of Australians who don't have houses anywhere
near as good as these houses are.

"This is a further indication of the government's long-standing commitment to improving
the facilities in Australian detention centres."

The new Villawood housing is only "a stone's throw away" from activities at the main
detention centre, Senator Vanstone said.

Detainees in the housing wing will be able to leave detention on "accompanied shopping
trips", she said.

Coinciding with today's opening, Senator Vanstone announced a reward scheme for detainees
to replace the old merit points systems, which she said was open to rorts.

Under the new system detainees start with 200 points worth one dollar each, instead
of starting from zero.

Reward points can be spent on items such as soft drinks and phone cards.

Detainees can earn reward points by participating in any of the educational courses
offered at the centres.

Australian Greens Senator Kerry Nettle said today's Villawood opening should not be
seen as an indication that the government is supporting families in detention.

"Shiny new detention facilities do not signal the real change that is still needed
in the government detention regime," Senator Nettle said.

"Every residential housing centre built is a reminder of the damage that mandatory
detention does to human lives."

A similar detention centre development has been built at Port Augusta, in South Australia,
and another is under construction in Perth.

AAP pc/klw/it/sp

KEYWORD: VILLAWOOD

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