BY ADAM BAKER
BRISBANE — "Australia has mistreated the Aboriginal people for more than 200 years. Why can't we show some compassion?", pleaded a resident opposed to the proposed Pinkenba refugee detention centre during a 100-strong meeting at Hamilton Town Hall on June 16.
The meeting was called by Wayne Swan, the federal ALP member for Lilley, and local community group Bayside Residents Against Toxic Sites (BRATS).
Swan told the meeting that there had only been no genuine "community consultation" on the proposed centre. He repeatedly made the point that the proposed facility's 200-bed capacity was going to be expanded to 550 beds and described it as a "medium security prison". He stressed that the government had been far too slow in processing applications for refugee status, and that this was causing an "unsettled" situation.
Swan added that the land allocated for the Pinkenba detention centre is an army base and it should not be closed down because it was needed for "defence of the country".
Swan did not express opposition to the mandatory detention of asylum seekers, nor did he call for all immigration detention centres to be closed. He did state that the detention centres should be under public control.
Margo Canavan, BRATS secretary, made the bizarre claim that escaped refugees trying to draw attention to their plight could easily ignite the nearby Avgas storage cylinders with a cigarette lighter! She also warned that if refugees escaped from the detention centre, residents' cars may be stolen.
However, Canavan also opposed the harsh conditions of the existing detention centres.
Liberal councillor for Hamilton, Tim Nicholson, was jeered when he mentioned his support for the concept of detention centres, and was almost drowned out when he tried to defend federal immigration minister Philip Ruddock. One audience member, wearing a "Racism Sux" T-shirt, charged that Liberal was spelt "r-a-c-i-s-t".
Socialist Alliance and Refugee Action Collective members leafleted the meeting before it started, despite opposition from an ALP staffer who feared the literature would "confuse the issue". However, the slogan on the leaflets, "Not in Pinkenba, not anywhere" was welcomed by most in attendance.
A motion opposing the proposed detention centre was passed without opposition, despite a minority of residents, led by Nicholson, speaking in favour of the centre.
From Green Left Weekly, June 26, 2002.
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