The $100 million damage bill you’re paying for

Seeing as you’re going to have to help pay the clean-up bill, you might want to take a look at the damage inflicted on the detention centre at Christmas Island.

The Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection has released this footage showing the extent of the damage caused by rioting at the Christmas Island detention centre.

Yesterday, immigration minister Peter Dutton said the Federal Government is facing a $10 million damage bill following the riots.

He also said the people behind the disturbance were “some of the country’s worst criminals”.

The ABC reports that a police source says two of the New Zealanders that have been taken from Christmas Island to face criminal charges are members of outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Mr Dutton said, “We’re dealing with some of the country’s worst criminals. I think people recognise now that the population that’s in the immigration detention centre on Christmas Island is made up of some very serious criminals.”

Were we aware of this? Isn’t Christmas Island supposed to be a place where asylum seekers are processed? What were known criminals doing in the facility? And is it any coincidence they were involved in this incredible disturbance?

The riot was sparked by the death of Iranian Kurdish man Fazel Chegeni who appeared to have escaped the facility.

Were you aware that Christmas Island hosted criminals as well as asylum seekers? Do you think that’s right? And how do you feel about the $10 million bill we’re all facing?