Local council opposes detention centre

MELBOURNE — At a meeting to launch its social justice charter for 2005, Hume City Council reaffirmed its opposition to the proposed Broadmeadows immigration detention centre.

Councillor Gary Jungwirth, the HCC's portfolio councillor for social justice, told the meeting: "The cost of building the centre alone will be $120 million. Imagine if that money was used to deal with disadvantage in the area, or on education and training."

Jungwirth also condemned the federal government's lack of consultation with the HCC on the issue and added that the government would use the cost of the centre to claim that Hume was a major receiver of federal funding.

The meeting was also addressed by lawyer and refugee activist Julian Burnside QC, who praised the HCC for its adoption of the social justice charter — the first "bill of rights" adopted by any government body in Australia.

The Hume City Council is planning to hold a rally on August 7 to oppose the building of the detention centre.

Chris Peterson & Tony Iltis

From Green Left Weekly, June 29, 2005.

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From GLW issue 631