INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption
The Christmas Island detention centre operated from 2003-2018
Australian PM Scott Morrison says he will re-open a controversial detention centre on Christmas Island, after a historic defeat in
parliament.On Tuesday, non-government MPs secured enough votes to pass a bill making it easier for sick refugees held offshore to be treated
in the country.Mr Morrison said the law would weaken the nation's tough border policies and embolden human traffickers.Opponents accused
him of spreading fear before an impending election.Since 2013, Australia has sent asylum seekers arriving by boat to detention centres on
Manus Island (Papua New Guinea) and Nauru
It previously also sent detainees to Christmas Island, an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean which is about 2,600km (1,600 miles) from
the mainland and 300km south of Indonesia.The UN has criticised Australia's detention policies as "inhumane", but the nation insists they
prevent human trafficking and save lives at sea
What led to Mr Morrison's announcementLast year, Australians were horrified by reports of a mental health crisis among children on Nauru -
including cases of attempted suicide.It prompted the Labor opposition, the Greens and crossbench MPs to support a bill that gives doctors
the power to recommend that refugees be transferred to Australia for treatment
However, the immigration minister would still have some authority to overrule transfers.Image:A local politician says re-opening the
detention centre is political scaremongering.Mr Morrison fiercely opposed the bill but it was narrowly approved in the House of
Representatives, where the government does not have a majority
It later cleared the Senate.On Wednesday, Mr Morrison said the government would re-open the Christmas Island centre "to deal with the
prospect of arrivals and transfers" - arguing both were now more likely.He added that Australia's border protection operations would
receive other additional resources, but declined to elaborate."This parliament has already tipped its hand enough to the people smugglers,"
he said.Why is he being accused of fear-mongeringOpponents pointed out that the bill applies only to people already on Nauru and Manus
Island, meaning new arrivals would not be eligible for transfer to Australia.Labor's Senate leader Penny Wong said Mr Morrison was playing
politics ahead of the election, likely to be held in May."[This is] a pattern of deceit and desperation from a man who is desperate to cling
to office - a man who has nothing left, nothing left but deceit, fear and smear," she told the chamber on Wednesday.What happened at
Christmas Island previouslyThe centre, which operated from 2003 until last year, saw numerous scenes of unrest - including riots, protests
and brawls.In 2010, about 50 asylum seekers from Iraq and Iran died when their boat smashed onto rocks off the island.Image:In 2010, dozens
of asylum seekers drowned off Christmas IslandAt its height, the centre held thousands of people
It closed in October when the final 35 detainees were removed
