The flood of asylum seekers has swollen the island's population by almost 60 per cent forcing the Department of Immigration to employ a community liaison officer to ease ongoing tensions on the tiny territory.
Immigration officials were confronted for more than two hours at a community meeting last week by about 150 angry residents demanding to know how the Rudd Government intended to ease pressure on the resources of the small island, whose population of 1200 regularly endures supply shortages as a result of late shipments from Perth.
'There are currently 464 detainees on Christmas Island and 226 immigration workers, contractors and service providers. The presence of the fly-in, fly-out workforce - many of whom have a daily allowance of about $80 for food on top of their wage - has led to recriminations over scarce and expensive fruit at the local store.
Fresh food flown in from Perth is many times more expensive than in mainland stores - one man claimed last week to have paid $21 for three capsicums.
Some residents have grown resentful that the 29 asylum seekers living in community detention on the island are able to buy fruit on store credit provided by the department.'
Well Kev said this would not happen under or as a result of his leadership or policies.
Me thinks Kev can not understand the ramifications of his actions or he is very happy to mislead the Australian public.
While I don't begrudge anyone wanting to better themselves in Australia, I very much disapprove of the argument they are escaping persecution attempting to arrive here illegally. Technically they achieved this when they arrived in Indonesia, if not before.
