FED: Scores of cops on their way to Christmas Is

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2010
FED: Scores of cops on their way to Christmas Is

CANBERRA, April 9 AAP - The decision to send scores of extra police to Christmas Island
is creating an atmosphere set to explode, a refugee advocate says.

The federal government on Friday announced it would suspend the processing of asylum
applications from both Sri Lankans and Afghans.

News of the decision soon travelled to the island where refugee advocate Ian Rintoul
suggested trouble was brewing.

"The government has recreated the conditions of Woomera and Baxter," Mr Rintoul told AAP.

The government said nothing about the decision, not even confirming how many police
would be sent or how much the operation would cost.

Opposition border protection spokesman Michael Keenan savaged the announcement as a
bandaid solution.

"It's likely that tensions will increase at the detention centre," Mr Keenan said in a statement.

He suggested the Australian Federal Police, who have responsibility for all external
territories, were already stretched before up to 80 officers were told to head for Christmas
Island.

"The government needs to come clean on where they are pulling these resources from,"

Mr Keenan said.

As part of its seeming crackdown on asylum seekers, the government announced it would
be creating a so-called criminal intelligence fusion centre.

Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said the centre would be given $14.5 million
over four years to create itself and gather intelligence.

The Australian Crime Commission will be home to the centre.

"The centre will co-locate expert investigators and analysts from commonwealth agencies
which may include the Australian Tax Office, Centrelink and the AFP," Mr O'Connor said.

AAP pv/it

KEYWORD: BOAT POLICE

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