Billions spent on Manus & Nauru better spent in Tasmania

Anglican Bishop John Harrower and CEO of the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce, Ms Misha Coleman will bring attention to the billions of dollars wasted on the Abbott Government’s offshore detention facilities when they meet with state and federal politicians in Tasmania this week. Ms Coleman said:

“The Taskforce estimates it’s costing Australian taxpayers $3,744 per day for each man, woman and child held in offshore detention centres.”

She said the billions spent on offshore detention could not be justified when the Federal Government is cutting on funding on health and education to the states.

“The Tasmanian Government estimates it will be $2.1 billion worse off over the next decade as a direct result of the Federal Budget. When contrasted with the $4.2 billion Canberra is planning to spend on offshore detention over the next four years, Tasmanians are entitled to question the Federal Government’s priorities.

Ms Coleman said the Abbott Government’s own Commission of Audit acknowledged offshore detention was the fastest growing area of expenditure in the Federal Budget.

“We’re the only country in the world that wastes money in this way. While we’re sinking billions into two other islands – Nauru and Manus Island – we’re slashing the budget of our own island state, Tasmania”.

Ms Coleman said processing and accommodating asylum seekers in Tasmania would be significantly cheaper than the costs associated with Manus and Nauru.

“The money saved could be used to fund State health and education needs instead.”

Ms Coleman said the Taskforce was aware that people with fulltime jobs in Australia are working at the offshore centres during their holidays, because the wages on Manus and Nauru for expatriate detention staff is so high.

“We could be employing Tasmanians in Tasmania instead. The Taskforce has estimated that thousands of jobs could be created by processing asylum seekers in Tasmania – without the inhumane conditions that have led to suicide attempts and violence in the offshore centres.“

The Anglican Bishop of Tasmania John Harrower, Patron of the Taskforce, said;

“With a projected cut of $27million in state health spending over the next year as a result of the Federal Budget, Tasmania faces the loss of 59 hospital beds. The Churches are asking the Federal Government whether the blank cheque it’s written to deter asylum seekers can be justified?”.

“I believe we have a responsibility to demand the proper stewardship of taxpayers’ funds, especially at a time when Tasmanians are being further disadvantaged by the proposed cuts to our essential services. Spending money on the care of asylum seekers in Tasmania, instead of Nauru and Manus Island, would stimulate economic growth and provide jobs in Tasmania. And based on Tasmania’s record of caring for asylum seekers and refugees, we’d get a more ethical, humane and legal approach to the care of asylum seekers, as opposed to the cruelty that is being inflicted in the offshore camps”.

Bishop Harrower said Australia’s national spending priorities are

“a reflection of its values as a society”.

Bishop John Harrower will host the Premier, Lord Mayor of Hobart Damon Thomas, the Mayor of Glenorchy and other Senators, Members of Parliament and dignitaries, prior to a Forum to discuss alternatives to the current policy framework as part of the 2014 Refugee Week celebrations in Tasmania on Thursday 12 June, at St David’s Cathedral , 121 Macquarie Street, Hobart, from 5.30 to 6.30pm.

Press inquiries: Misha Coleman, Taskforce CEO, 0428 399 739 or The Rev’d Stephen Carnaby, Bishop’s Media Officer, 0417 343 710 (Media Release of 10^th June 2014)

See also, At Easter: 1000 children in detention and Speaking asylum seekers with our children