Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

I was interested to read in Senator Bushby's and my home paper, the Hobart Mercury, last week that the shadow minister for immigration, on a visit to Pontville, was 'very warm' about the idea of reopening the Pontville detention centre as a reception centre. We know from Labor's recent foray into recommencing transportation to Van Diemen's Land that this centre cost more than $50 million—$112,500 per detainee. Health costs were more than $4 million, and more than $1 million was spent on flights from the far north all the way to Tasmania. Make no mistake: Mr Shorten's frontbencher wants to send the clear message to the criminal people smugglers that they will be back in business under Labor, including another detention centre opening in Tasmania.