Australia reopens migrant centre

SYDNEY: A controversial offshore migrant detention centre on Christmas Island is to reopen, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Wednesday, as he doubled down on hardline policies after a historic legislative defeat.

Morrison approved t he reopening of the remote facility - closed just months ago -- claiming new laws just passed by Parliament would increase the number of people trying to arrive in Australia illegally.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Parliament rebuffed government warnings and adopted legislation opening the door for some of the 1,000 refugees detained in existing offshore centres on Nauru and Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island to travel to Australia for medical treatment. AFP