Fed: Inhumane policy to blame for detention centre fires

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Fed: Inhumane policy to blame for detention centre fires

Refugee activists say flawed and inhumane government policies are to blame for detentioncentre fires which have caused more than $5 million damage.

Coalition for Reform of Refugee Policy spokesman GREG BARNS says the damage is a directresult of the HOWARD government's approach to refugees.

Fires at South Australia's Baxter detention centre over the weekend are estimated tohave caused about $2.25 million in damage.

Up to five separate fires were deliberately lit about midnight Saturday (CDT) in acompound at the detention centre.

The fires forced detainees to be evacuated into another compound, which was also set ablaze.

A fire also broke out in a storage block at Western Australia's Port Hedland centreovernight, causing an estimated $3 million damage.

Mr BARNS says the damage is a result of the federal government's flawed and inhumaneasylum seeker policies.

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KEYWORD: DETENTION FIRE REACT (CANBERRA)