Refugee group slams detention plan

REFUGEE advocates have strongly criticised the Gillard government's plans for new and expanded immigration detention facilities in the Northern Territory.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen this week said Labor would build a $9.2 million, 1500-bed facility at an industrial site at Wickham Point, 35 kilometres south-east of Darwin. He also announced plans to expand the capacity of a hotel near Darwin's airport by up to 400 beds, and to extend the use of a Queensland air force base as a facility.

The Refugee Council of Australia described the move as a short-term fix that would not address underlying problems with Australia's immigration detention policies.

The council's chief executive, Paul Power, said Australia was at odds with the approach of European and North American governments, which release asylum seekers into the community after identity, health and screening processes.

''The answer is not to spend even more money building large new detention centres but to develop a detention policy that balances risk management with humane treatment,'' Mr Power said.

Commonwealth Ombudsman Allan Asher, whose recent review highlighted stretched resources at the Christmas Island detention centre, said while the announcement would improve conditions for children and families, more needed to be done.

''I remain concerned about timeliness in processing refugee applications, delays in security agency clearances and various health issues - particularly those related to mental health,'' Mr Asher said.

Mr Bowen, who admitted facilities were under pressure, said he could not predict how many asylum seekers would arrive in the coming months.

He said the government was sticking to its plan to negotiate a regional processing centre in East Timor, despite concerns raised by senior Timor government officials about the idea.

The foreign ministers of Indonesia and East Timor both said yesterday they were yet to be convinced of the merits of the proposal.