Pontville Bulletin

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Closure of facility

The Pontville Immigration Detention Centre has closed following six months of operation as a temporary immigration detention facility.

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, announced on 6 March 2012 that the final group of detainees had been moved from the centre and the facility was to be decommissioned.

Mr Bowen thanked the Tasmanian community for its support of the facility over the past six months. 'I would hope other communities across Australia take Tasmania's lead in demonstrating how positive community interaction can have direct benefits for those people in immigration detention and the local community alike.'

Mr Bowen said Pontville was always intended to be a temporary facility. 'The government acknowledges the positive feedback it has received about Pontville and the benefits it has provided to the local community,' Mr Bowen said. 'However, the need for such temporary detention accommodation has been reduced with new detention accommodation now available.'  

Media release

Media releases from the government and the department regarding Pontville are available.
See: Media Releases