Inverbrackie detention centre should be reopened for Syrian refugees, South Australian Premier says
Updated
The former Inverbrackie detention centre in the Adelaide Hills should be used as emergency housing for Syrian refugees fleeing the war-torn country, the state's Premier says.
Asylum seekers were moved out of the Woodside site earlier this year after it was closed by the Federal Government.
It includes 80 houses, a medical clinic, a library and community centre, and was upgraded by the former federal government at a cost of $10 million.
South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill said the Commonwealth facility was in good shape and expressions of interest were currently out to find an alternative use.
"I know the community that surrounds the Inverbrackie facility are keen for it to continue to be a place that supports refugees and other people fleeing violence," he said.
"It would provide a safe haven. It can provide that now."
Mr Weatherill said he had written to Prime Minister Tony Abbott offering to resettle displaced Syrians and suggested the use of Inverbrackie.
He supported the Federal Opposition's call for 10,000 extra refugee places.
"South Australia's share of that would be in the order of 700 to 800," Mr Weatherill said.
"That's something we certainly could do but they're discussions that we'll have with the Government."
Mr Weatherill said Australia needed to be part of the international effort to respond to the refugee crisis.
"If there's a moral imperative to bomb Syria, then there's a moral imperative for us to provide safe haven for those people affected by those activities," he said.
Former Liberal premier supports Syrian intake
SA's former Liberal premier, John Olsen, was in government when 140 families were settled from Kosovo during the late 1990s.
How these young children will grow up later in life in those circumstances, is something we ought to reflect upon, how good we've got it, and how we might assist these people on their life's journey.
Liberal premier John Olsen
"In terms of humanitarian and compassionate outreach, it is exactly the same," Mr Olsen said.
"It's hard for us in the environment in which we live to comprehend just how devastating these circumstances must be for these displaced people."
He hoped the Federal Government would reach out to the Syrians and offer them refuge.
"You have to be careful and deliberative in the way in which you do it," he said.
"But importantly, these people have been displaced and they're going through the horrors of war.
"How these young children will grow up later in life in those circumstances is something we ought to reflect upon, how good we've got it, and how we might assist these people on their life's journey."
In a speech to Parliament, Mr Abbott did not commit to an increased humanitarian intake, but said the Government planned to "take a significant number of people from Syria this year".
Mr Abbott did not provide further detail about the nature of any financial or humanitarian commitments.
He said he would be waiting to hear from Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, who has been dispatched to Geneva for meetings with the United Nations and is expected to report back overnight.
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