MEDIA STATEMENT
The Tasmania Opportunity statewide leaders summit.
Launceston
Tasmania leaders are to forge ahead with a proposal to make Tasmania the centre for refugee and asylum seeker processing following a statewide summit today (Monday, November 10).
A business plan will be prepared to put to the Federal Government in time for the next Budget process.
The summit organisers, The Tasmania Opportunity, will form a specialist group of business, political and community leaders, to pull the plan together and will seek State Government assistance.
The secretary of the Tasmania Opportunity, Launceston paediatrician Dr David Strong, said the strong resolution from the summit -- attended by more than 70 leaders -- was that Tasmania offered a cheaper, more efficient, and more humane alternative to the present Operation Sovereign Borders policy of the Federal Government.
He said with adequate federal fundingsuch a program would result in a vibrant and prosperous Tasmania. He said there multiple opportunities for Tasmania to benefit from the influx of new arrivals.
At present the federal government spent more than $1 billion on dealing with asylum seekers offshore.
Misha Coleman, executive officer of the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce, told the summit it was 10 times more expensive to house asylum seekers offshore than within Australia. For example, she said, the large corporation Transfield, was paid $51 million a month to run the Manus Island facility.
In the case of the plan to hold asylum seekers in Cambodia, it would cost $10 million a year for a maximum of 10 people.
Ms Coleman said that in focusing on the stewardship of the taxpayer dollar it would be far more efficient and beneficial by writing a cheque for Tasmania rather than for a developing country.
Refugee and asylum seeker advocate and Sydney Peace Prize winner Julian Burnside QC told the summit asylum seekers were a resource not a threat. "They come here with great skills and a determination to prosper. Why would we not have them here?" he asked.
He outlined some of the conditions that could apply should Tasmania become a refugee processing centre.
These included:
CAPPING detention at one month.
ASYLUM seekers should stay in touch with the federal department.
THEY should be engaged in education, training and work so they can contribute economically to both the public and private sectors.
THEY must live in a region designated by the Government. eg Tasmania.
Mr Burnside told the summit the growth areas of the Tasmanian economy, such as aged care and child care would benefit from an influx of new arrivals and there could also be an increase in the size of the federal bureaucracy in the state.
Misha Coleman is available for interview on 0428 399 739.
David Strong is available for interview on 0448 800 914.
Julian Burnside is available for interview on 0412 157 230.
For further information on the summit and The Tasmania Opportunity, contact Garry Bailey on 0409 970431.
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