Modia Minotaur

Trawling the airwaves to spare you the agony!

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Immigration Detention: Bad For Your Health

I was surprised that yesterday's reports that Villawood Detention Centre has a serious asbestos contamination problem didn't get more attention, especially on a day which, until the annoucement of the Telstra sale, was the epitome of a slow news day (Channel 7 News led with a pilot doing a successful crash landing, while one of the hottest stories on the Sydney Morning Herald's website was the revelation that Osama Bin Laden has a crush on Whitney Houston. Ay, ay ... ). Villawood inmates were already relocated after an asbestos cleanup operation earlier this year.

This sort of pollution at a site with a history like Villawood's is hardly a surprise. Prior to its redevelopment as a detention centre in 1976, the centre was a migrant hostel. Unlike its current incarnation, new migrants - many of whom had escaped from war-torn regions following WWII - were encouraged to travel the local area and get to know the Australian people and lifestyle. Prior to this, the area was used as army barracks. It is ironic that the detainees were moved to Holsworthy Army Barracks, given that it is alleged that this area is also being investigated for asbestos contamination.

Long-term contamination is common on former army sites, from sources such as asbestos, but also including heavy metals, chemicals such as arsenic, pesticides, lead and mercury. Given that the Villawood site has been in almost continuous use since 1952, and serious concerns about substances such as PCBs were not widespread until after its 1978 redevelopment, it is unlikely that the sort of remediation that usually takes place on former army land has taken place at Villawood. The centre is about to undergo a major redevelopment - let's hope that detainees and workers end up with a site that is safe for all. Given past reports of GSL's regard for detainee amenity (not to mention the government's - but, yet again, privatisation has allowed them to claim that it's Not Their Fault), I'm not optimistic that they'd do it for any other reason than not getting sued.

5 Comments:

At 4:36 pm, Blogger oakleyses said...

longchamp outlet, cheap oakley sunglasses, ugg boots clearance, michael kors outlet, prada handbags, uggs outlet, christian louboutin, louboutin shoes, louis vuitton, louis vuitton outlet, michael kors outlet, cheap uggs, chanel handbags, rolex watches, nike free, oakley sunglasses, ugg outlet, louis vuitton handbags, kate spade outlet, longchamp handbags, polo ralph lauren, ray ban sunglasses, nike shoes, longchamp handbags, tory burch outlet, oakley sunglasses, gucci outlet, tiffany and co, oakley sunglasses cheap, michael kors outlet, replica watches, prada outlet, michael kors outlet, michael kors outlet, burberry outlet, uggs, oakley sunglasses, louis vuitton outlet stores, polo ralph lauren outlet, louis vuitton outlet, ray ban sunglasses, louboutin outlet, michael kors outlet online sale, burberry outlet, louboutin, air max, tiffany and co, ray ban sunglasses

 
At 4:39 pm, Blogger oakleyses said...

abercrombie and fitch, nike free pas cher, polo ralph lauren, lululemon outlet online, kate spade handbags, nike tn, michael kors uk, coach outlet store online, hollister, air max pas cher, vans pas cher, nike air force, polo lacoste, sac hermes, hollister, louboutin, sac burberry, true religion outlet, oakley pas cher, mulberry, longchamp, ray ban sunglasses, nike blazer, coach outlet, air max, nike roshe, sac longchamp pas cher, nike air max, air jordan, coach purses, coach factory outlet, air max, north face, nike free, converse pas cher, michael kors outlet, ray ban pas cher, true religion outlet, true religion jeans, new balance pas cher, north face, michael kors, true religion jeans, sac guess, nike roshe run pas cher, ralph lauren, vanessa bruno, michael kors pas cher, timberland, hogan outlet

 
At 4:44 pm, Blogger oakleyses said...

links of london, moncler, ugg, thomas sabo, pandora jewelry, ugg, sac louis vuitton, michael kors outlet online, moncler, moncler, hollister, moncler, montre homme, doke gabbana, louis vuitton, sac lancel, canada goose, ugg boots, moncler outlet, wedding dresses, ugg pas cher, sac louis vuitton, canada goose, coach outlet store online, ugg, michael kors handbags, louis vuitton, pandora jewelry, rolex watches, barbour, pandora charms, canada goose uk, louis vuitton uk, marc jacobs, toms shoes, canada goose, moncler, michael kors outlet, supra shoes, canada goose, moncler, barbour, canada goose outlet, swarovski crystal, juicy couture outlet, moncler, canada goose, juicy couture, karen millen, canada goose jackets, swarovski, pandora charms

 
At 3:24 pm, Blogger Unknown said...

polo ralph lauren
discount ugg boots
canada goose outelt
michael kors wallet sale
tommy hilfiger
ysl outlet
air force 1 shoes
ugg outlet uk
fred perry polo shirts
coach outlet store
coach outlet store
mulberry uk
ray ban sunglasses
tods shoes
celine outlet
michael kors outlet sale
hollister uk
moncler outlet store
kobe shoes
michael kors outlet

 
At 3:25 pm, Blogger Unknown said...

polo ralph lauren
discount ugg boots
canada goose outelt
michael kors wallet sale
tommy hilfiger
ysl outlet
air force 1 shoes
ugg outlet uk
fred perry polo shirts
coach outlet store
coach outlet store
mulberry uk
ray ban sunglasses
tods shoes
celine outlet
michael kors outlet sale
hollister uk
moncler outlet store
kobe shoes
michael kors outlet

 

Post a Comment

<< Home