THE Immigration Department might have joined the ACT Public Service in taking a special day off on Anzac Monday while the rest of the public have to work, but uncertainty remains over where the Department will he housed and Labor’s Member for Fraser Andrew Leigh wants to know what’s going on.
“The Abbott Government must put an end to the anxious wait faced by thousands of Belconnen workers over the future location of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection,” Andrew said.
“Immigration Minister Peter Dutton is still refusing to reveal whether the department will be moved out of the Belconnen Town Centre at huge cost to local jobs and businesses.
“This, despite the Government’s own timeline stating a decision should have been reached almost a month ago.
“If the Immigration Department’s 4,000 staff are moved out of Belconnen, this will have a devastating impact on the town centre’s small businesses, shops and cafes.
“It will also place further traffic pressure on Parkes Way and other major roads out of Belconnen, increasing daily commute times for all Northsiders.
“Local Liberal Senator Zed Seselja says he’s been lobbying Minister Dutton to make a decision on the potential move, but his views clearly don’t count for much with his colleague.
“The Abbott Government will not get away with sneaking an announcement about the future of the department into the upcoming Budget.
“Peter Dutton must be honest with the Northside community now and make clear whether he plans to wreck the local economy by taking away thousands of Belconnen jobs.”
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