FED: Govt moves to remove immigration detention debts
PARLY 00818 Mar 2009 12:20 PM
Subject: FED: Govt moves to remove immigration detention debts FED: Govt moves to remove immigration detention debts
By Susanna Dunkerley
CANBERRA, March 18 AAP - Immigration detainees will no longer be billed for the cost of their detention under laws introduced into parliament.
The bill would also waive existing debts for current and former detainees, but it won't refund any debts already paid.
Anyone convicted of people smuggling or illegal fishing, or people who have been deported, will still be liable for the cost of detention.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans said the current system was ineffective and burdened former detainees with enormous debt.
"These debts are not insignificant," Senator Evans said.
"A person in immigration detention for a year (can) incur a debt of more than $45,000."
The changes would not add any significant costs to the community, he said.
The immigration detention debt raised between 2006 and 2008 was about $54 million.
Just $1.8 million was recovered, while it was determined it would be uneconomical to pursue $48.2 million of the debt. The remaining $4 million was waived by the immigration department.
"Making immigration detainees primarily responsible for the costs associated with their detention has not ... contributed to minimising costs to the ... community."
"In the meantime the department is required to meet the high cost of administering a debt that it is largely unable to collect.
The Australian Greens welcomed the bill.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the party is strongly opposed to the imposition of detention debts.
"Detention debts have been a flagrant form of adding insult to injury to those who come to Australia seeking our assistance and protection," the senator said in a statement.
Debate on The Migration Amendment (Abolishing Detention Debt) Bill 2009 was adjourned.
AAP sld/kms =0A
FED: Govt moves to remove immigration detention debts