Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre contingency arrangements to take effect from October 2018

The Department of Home Affairs has announced that the North West Point Immigration Detention Centre will move into contingency arrangements by the end of 2018. The decision to move to a contingency arrangement on Christmas Island was included in the 2016–17 Australian Government Budget.

The Department also confirmed that all detainees from the Centre will have been transferred to other sites by October 2018. I am further advised that the Australian Border Force and its service provider Serco will continue to have a presence on Christmas Island during the transition to the contingency arrangements.

The tender process for the provision of maintenance of Departmental facilities (including staff accommodation) is underway with a decision on the successful tenderer to be announced soon.

I will continue to work with the Australian Government to manage the impact of the move of the Immigration Detention Centre into hot contingency on both the community and economy. To support the local economy, the Australian Government is:

• providing funding to the Regional Development Organisation to develop a Strategic Plan, which provides the community with a roadmap for the Island's future development. The formation of the plan is underway with community consultations almost complete;
• recruiting a Regional Investment Officer to identify economic and investment opportunities—the recruitment process is almost complete with an announcement expected shortly;
• releasing Crown land for commercial development. The Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities is working with the Western Australian Government to survey and subdivide the blocks and to register the sites with the WA Landgate. Valuations will then be undertaken in preparation for sale and lease;
• providing $350,000 in 2018–19 to the local tourism association to market Christmas Island to international and domestic tourists;
• providing $800,000 to the Indian Ocean Territories Group Training Association to support training and skill development, and provide employment services;
• supporting the upgrade and maintenance of local infrastructure, with $31.9 million provided in the 2018 budget; and
• continuing the underwrite of air services, at a cost of $19.6 million over four years.

I will continue to work with the community, businesses and potential investors to support the Christmas Island economy.

Natasha Griggs
Administrator
Territories of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands