penkin » 21 апр 2011, 17:55
It is clear that around 100 protesters, detainees, engaged in very serious action last night. There has been what appears to be extensive damage to several buildings. Those buildings are the kitchen, support and recreation rooms. At this stage it appears that there has been no substantial damage to actual accommodation buildings. Obviously this is very serious, Australian's have a right to be angry at those who have conducted this sort of damage, I share their anger.
There are a number of points to make about this. Obviously there will be an Australian Federal Police investigation. This action is not only completely unacceptable, but it is very clearly potentially criminal as well and potential charges may well be laid following the Australian Federal Police investigation, and those people who have engaged in this action would therefore be dealt with under our justice system, just as any other person on Australian soil would be.
In addition, for those who may have visa applications pending, it is open to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and me as Minister, to consider matters of character in determining whether to grant them a visa and what type of visa to grant. As I said in relation to Christmas Island, I will be applying the character test to those who may have been involved in this incident and I'll be applying it vigorously.
As you know, in relation to Christmas Island, during that protest – that disturbance, I instigated an independent arms-length review, to be conducted by two respected former Commonwealth Departmental Secretaries, Dr Allan Hawke and Ms Helen Williams. I have this morning arranged for the terms of reference for that review to be extended to cover the incident at Villawood last night, that will go to the preparedness and response of my department and Serco, the manager of the centre.
Of course, we continue to monitor the situation at the centre. The Australian Federal Police will soon be re-entering the centre and at that stage if there's any further advice that either I or my department are able to give the media, of course we would do so.