Perth Australia Population

$3million a month for asylum seekers' hotels

And the Prime Minister is facing an investigation into Australia's detention centres following revelations of violence and communicable diseases among asylum seeekers.

It comes as Australia's asylum seeker policy is expected to dominate Parliament when MPs return to Canberra this week.

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison will announce today the Coalition's plans for a parliamentary select committee with the power to call witnesses and demand government documents.

It will consider evidence including hotel bills of $3.1 million to house 673 detainees at an estimated cost of $4,500 per person per month.

Between September 2010 to February this year, the cost of accommodating people in hotel-style accommodation also rose from $2.36m to $3.1 million a month.

In Perth, asylum seekers have been put up in the leafy Banksia Tourist Caravan Park in Hazelmere and at a Jandakot hotel.

The inquiry would also consider other evidence of a crisis within the detention centre including:

COMMUNICABLE diseases reports of tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Chlamydia, Syphilis and Whooping Cough rising to 121 cases.

SEX ABUSE allegations and claims of assault against detainees and incidents of self-harm and violence within the overcrowded centres.

LEGAL costs of $10 million since July for lawyers and litigation costs, including challenging visa decisions.

OVER 20 babies born in detention and the 1,000 children currently in Immigration detention as of May 6.

"With an average of more than three critical incidents being reported every day in the detention network, ranging from self harm and serious assaults to riots, fires and even deaths , the Government must now be held to account," Mr Morrison told The Sunday Times.

"Violent riots, a cost blow out of more than $3 billion, a detention population at record levels, more than 60 per cent of detainees having been there for more than six months, cannot go unnoticed by this parliament."

A spokesman for the Immigration Department said low-cost hotel-or-motel style accommodation had been used as alternative detention facilities for several years under successive governments.

"The department is currently using a number of commercial accommodation sites as low-security detention facilities for IMA families and vulnerable clients," he said.

"They included the Virginia Palms Hotel a "4-star" hotel in Brisbane, the Asti Hotel in Darwin, the Darwin Airport Lodge, Leonora in WA and Jandakot in WA.

Perth Waterfront And City Square Funding Continues | The Southern ...

The State Government’s work to transform Perth through key urban renewal projects has received a funding boost in the 2011-12 State Budget.

The Perth City Link Project will receive funding of $56.8 Million in the next four years to help accelerate the development of the City Square to coincide with the completion of the underground Rail and Bus Station.

Planning Minister John Day said the funding was in addition to the $336.4 Million already earmarked for the rail and bus infrastructure and the $270 Million allocated to the Perth Waterfront project.

“The future growth of Perth is about creating a unique sense of place and a distinctive Perth character which reconnects our city through carefully planned development.” Mr. Day said.

“The Perth City Link project will reconnect the city centre with Northbridge by sinking part of the Fremantle Rail Line and Wellington Street Bus Station and delivering high quality commercial, residential and public spaces.”

“Work will start on the Waterfront project as soon as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is over, with major public works expected to be completed by the end of 2014.  The total cost to Government is estimated at $270 Million.”

The Minister said the State Government was delivering major social infrastructure to transform the city and accommodate its rapidly growing population while creating new opportunities to live, work and recreate in the city centre.

“The Government aims to ensure Western Australia continues to mature into a contemporary, liveable and globally competitive State for future generations.” Mr. Day said.

“Perth City Link and the Perth Waterfront are two of Australia’s most exciting city projects which will increase intensity and activity in the city and redefine the way many West Australians and visitors interact with our city.”

In the next four years, the East Perth Redevelopment Authority (EPRA) will also spend $18.6 Million to continue the activation and revitalisation of the Perth Cultural Centre, and $64.4 Million to fund redevelopment works and land acquisition in the Riverside project area.

Further improvement works will occur in the Perth Cultural Centre – continuing the transformation of the area.  The Perth Cultural Centre will take centre stage during CHOGM as the ‘People’s Space’ , playing host to four days of activity and entertainment for the people of Perth and visitors.