Federal Member for Dawson, George Christensen, has backed the Australian Workers Union (AWU) stance against sending asylum seekers to work in regional areas.

The Federal Government, desperately seeking a “Plan B” after their Malaysian Solution debacle, suggested asylum seekers could be sent to regional areas while their visa applications were being processed.

“After running around trying to find a people smuggling solution that doesn’t involve Nauru, the Labor Government is now grasping at straws,” Mr Christensen said.

“Sending illegal immigrants to regional areas to work has disaster written all over it and even the AWU can see some of the holes in such a rushed policy.”

Mr Christensen said sending illegal immigrants to work in areas where there were labour shortages was fraught with danger and he had asked the immigration minister, through parliament, to rule out this region as a dumping ground for boatpeople.

“Where would they live and who would pay for their living arrangements,” he said. “We have enough issues with high rents and high cost of living in our region without further upsetting the equilibrium.

“This government is so out of control they are desperate to sweep the immigration problem under someone’s carpet. They High Court won’t let hide their problem under the Malaysian carpet and the Australian people are no longer foolish enough to allow them to hide illegal immigrants in regional centres already under pressure.”

AWU stance: http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201110/s3342276.htm