Detainee laws to be eased: coalition

The federal opposition fears offshore processing rules could soon be relaxed due to
overcrowding at the Christmas Island detention facility.
Around 1,500 suspected asylum seekers are currently being held at the facility, with
many being housed in tents.
That number will rise over coming days as another boat load of people, intercepted
by authorities on Friday, makes its way to the island.
The recent surge in arrivals, 56 boats this year, has forced the government to
expand the centre's capacity from 1,400 to about 2,200 beds.
But much of the additional accommodation will not be ready until March next year,
forcing around 60 people to reside in tents.
Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison wants to know what the government
plans to do in the meantime.
"We want to know what efforts they're making to secure some other form of offshore
processing," he told AAP.
The government has flagged the idea of using Darwin's Northern Immigration Detention
Centre for the final stages of processing.
Mr Morrison says he is concerned about the legal status of people brought to the
mainland for processing.
"If they (the government) move people onshore then they need to sit down and work
out how they are going to protect the integrity of the system.
"Our view is you can't do that because inevitably a judge somewhere will take the
view that once you're onshore you're onshore."
He said onshore processing also sent the wrong message to people smugglers.
"Allowing them to bring people straight to the mainland will be the biggest pull
factor in place," he said.
"If all Christmas Island becomes is a transit lounge, the house of cards will come
down."
The coalition says offshore processing is a key plank of its border security policy,
along with the re-introduction of temporary protection visas.