Neither the Minister for Immigration or ACT Backbencher Senator Humphries has been able to provide answers to why the Canberra office of the Migration Review Tribunal will be closed on 30 June 2004.
When asked to provide details under Labor questioning in Senate Question time yesterday, the Minister for Immigration was unable to respond, and had to take the question on notice.
Similarly, Senator Humphries who issued a media release today stated;
“If jobs at the Migration Review Tribunal are at risk, I will take up the issue with the relevant Minister”
Well Senator, according to information received by my office the wind up of this office has apparently been occurring for the past 18 months and that as many as 60 staff have or will be been relocated or made redundant by 30 June 2004.
If Senator Humphries is as concerned about defending Canberra jobs and opportunities as he makes out, may I suggest that he take a good hard look at the record of the Howard Government over the past 7 years.
Just last week we learnt of the intention to relocate key services such as those provided by the Child Support Agency and now the closure of the Migration Review Tribunal.
Clearly the Prime Minister believes that not only is it more suitable to live in Sydney, but it appears these important services are also better off being delivered from Sydney.
Contact: Adina Cirson – (02) 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295
