Australian Govt defends asylum seeker detentions

The federal government has again been forced to defend its asylum seeker policies following the latest outbreak of violence and rioting among detainees.
An independent inquiry will be held into the riots at Sydney's Villawood Detention Centre that broke out late on Wednesday, leaving buildings burnt to the ground.
The Australian Federal Police have also been asked to investigate the violent protests, involving up to 100 detainees.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard condemned the incident, which comes just weeks after protests erupted at the Christmas Island detention centre.
"Violence is always wrong," Ms Gillard told reporters in Tokyo.
"Anybody who thinks by acting in a violent way in a detention centre that they will get some advantage in terms of their claim is absolutely wrong."
The riot has also fuelled fears in southern Tasmania where the federal government wants to build another immigration detention centre.
Southern Midlands Mayor Tony Bisdee said the violence at Villawood had vindicated the community's concerns.
Refugee advocates say tensions erupted at Villawood because of lengthy delays in processing, along with the policy of mandatory detention.
The federal opposition says Labor has failed to take care of its detention network.
"This is a government that has crisis after crisis," opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said, demanding an immediate halt to the asylum claims of those involved.
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said protesters who took to the roof at Villawood had already had their claims rejected.
But he warned others with applications pending that they risked having their claims denied.
"I will be applying the character test to those who may have been involved, vigorously," he said.
The government will extend the review, looking at the response to recent riots at Christmas Island facility, to include the latest unrest at Villawood.
About 200 asylum seekers threw rocks and burnt tents to the ground at Christmas Island after police used tear gas to stop them breaking out in March.
Mr Bowen said there was no evidence to suggest that detainees moved to Villawood following the Christmas Island disturbance were involved in the latest riots.
But he warned charges could be laid, following an AFP investigation at Villawood.
"This action is not only completely unacceptable but ... potentially criminal as well."
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said anyone found guilty of criminal behaviour was not welcome in Australia.
Refugee advocates agree violence should not be tolerated, but say protests are to be expected, given frustrations over delays in processing.
Amnesty International's refugee spokesman Dr Graham Thom said the latest incident highlights the problems with immigration detention.
The Australian Human Rights Commission agreed, calling for mandatory detention to be dumped.
"There's very clear evidence that indefinite detention is very damaging to people's health," commission president Catherine Branson told ABC Radio.
Mr Bowen rejected any suggestion the riots were prompted by delays in processing.