Monday, December 16, 2002

Time for a holiday Down Under!
David Penberthy in the Daily Telegraph (Oz) reveals that ILLEGALS LIVE IN FIVE-STAR STYLE:
CONDEMNED by their critics as concentration camps, Australia's detention centres are providing asylum seekers with everything from DVDs and pay-TV to classes in yoga, flower-arranging and driver education.

For the first time, The Daily Telegraph can today reveal full details of the services, amenities and recreational facilities provided at the nation's seven detention centres.
...
At a total cost to taxpayers of $110 a day for each detainee, the 1326 people currently in detention have an ever-increasing range of services and programs.
Ah, yes! Must have services, not to mention programs.

Woomera might be nice, but I'll pick Christmas Island.
Standard at all seven centres:
* Pool and snooker tables, television (24-hour Foxtel for cable TV in common areas), DVDs and VCRs, a minimum of 25 different movies each week, including films in English and other languages and desktop computers.
* Sony Playstations, Nintendos, musical instruments, large stereos and portable mini hi-fis. Personal stereos at some centres.
* Sewing machines and knitting/needlework equipment.
* Soccer, Australian football, rugby league, volleyball, basketball and touch football facilities; badminton and table tennis sets; gymnasium equipment including rowing machines, complete weight sets and bench presses, walking machines and exercise bikes.
* Education services including onsite teachers and subjects including English as a Second Language, business, mathematics, science, computing, life skills, religious awareness and vocational training.
* Medical services including onsite general practicioners and nurses, and inhouse or visiting psychiatrists, dentists and optometrists.
* Local newspapers such as The Daily Telegraph and The Adelaide Advertiser but also local ethnic community newspapers including Arab World, Chinese Herald, Russian Daily, Asian Weekend and Ho Jong Korean News.
* Library books, and access to mobile lending libraries.

Special facilities at Woomera, SA:
* Daily Tae Bo "box-ercise" classes and excursions to local BMX track, Woomera Area School, local shops and supermarket.
* Vegetable garden with children given seeds for their personal gardens, arts and craft classes including mural making, flower potting, painting and life drawing, beading and sewing.
* Life skill classes for life in Australia including sun awareness , parenting skills and child behaviour management, budgeting and diet awareness.
* Bingo nights, driver education training, yoga and meditation classes
* Pet cat for the 12 people detained at the residential housing project. Individualised ESL (English) classes for adults.

Special facilities at Christmas Island:
* Coconut carving.
* Snorkeling.
* Bushwalking
They ought to publish a brochure! With pictures of the pet cat.