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National
9:37 pm AEST
April 26 2000
SA govt to raise concerns over illegal
immigrants
AAP -- South Australia will raise concerns with the
federal government over plans to release into the community more
than 1,000 illegal immigrants being held in the state's
north.
Premier John Olsen said today he had been told that up
to 90 per cent of the 1,300 people at the Woomera detention centre
would be granted temporary protection visas, allowing them to stay
in Australia for three years.
He said he had also been
advised that once the visas had been granted the refugees would be
offered transport to one of only three locations, Perth, Brisbane or
Adelaide.
They would be given just $500 by the Commonwealth
to assist with the relocation in what the premier suspected was a
cost-shifting exercise.
"Given the location of Woomera it is
reasonable to expect a significant number of those offered visas
will come to Adelaide," Mr Olsen said.
"On top of that
preparations are under way to allow for a possible increase to 3,000
people at Woomera.
"That gives rise to significant
implications for public housing, emergency accommodation, health and
community issues."
Mr Olsen said South Australia strongly
supported considered and co-ordinated responses to refugees rather
than the piecemeal and crisis-driven approach that would inevitably
result from the present arrangements.
"It is widely
recognised that refugees require appropriate early, co-ordinated
intervention and that the sooner they recover and settle the better
for them and the whole community," he said.
"But this should
be about fairness and about being serious about our
responsibilities, not a cost shifting exercise."
Mr Olsen
said he would raise his concerns at this week's ministerial council
of immigration and multicultural affairs in New Zealand.
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