Port Augusta Community Consultations
Media Release - DPS 12/2003
Residents in the Port Augusta and Whyalla region will have the opportunity to put their views about a range of issues regarding the Baxter Immigration Detention Facility at a public meeting to be held in Port Augusta on 25 February 2003.
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs intends to canvass local views of residents and has accepted an invitation from the Port Augusta Council to convene a public meeting. The meeting is to be held in the Brian Evens Theatre, Carlton Parade Port Augusta commencing at 7pm.
The meeting will focus on the operation of the Baxter detention facility, access to community facilities, support from emergency services and police, external education of children and the potential establishment of a residential housing project.
This meeting is part of a broader consultation framework which has been established which includes:
- a high level government oversight group which will focus on overseeing
the consultation process
- a secondary reference group for the Port Augusta and Whyalla communities,
involving councils, chambers of commerce, Indigenous and church groups,
which will focus on how activities at Baxter will impact on those communities
- a third group involving detainees at Baxter and groups such as the Red Cross and religious organisations, which will focus on activities inside the centre.
There are six immigration detention facilities in Australia. The Baxter facility is classified as a long-term facility with a capacity of 800 people although the recent fires resulted in the loss of 120 places. There are currently around 230 people in residence.
A further meeting of the government consultation group will be scheduled soon to progress any relevant matters arising from the public meeting.
18 February 2003
Media inquiries: Public Affairs (02) 6264 2244