NEWSFLASH: DETENTION CENTRE FOR NT?

CANBERRA: The Federal Government is studying a request to set up a new refugee detention centre on Bathurst Island . A Little Darwin correspondent in the national capital has been informed that the Tiwi Land Council sent a proposal to the Rudd Government for the establishment of a detention centre on the island . During the Howard Government , Minister Amanda Vanstone excised the Tiwi Islands from the Australian mainland under the Immigration Act after some boat people were found wandering about there. The Tiwi Land Council believes a detention centre would provide employment opportunities and upgrade the health and education facilities . Being close to Darwin, it would be cheaper to service the centre than isolated Christmas Island which is fast filling, with more boats to come.