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Canberra Today 15°/17° | Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Zed splits Immigration between Belconnen and the airport

zed seselja

ZED Seselja has welcomed the announcement that the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), including its operational enforcement arm the Australian Border Force will remain in Belconnen, whilst however obtaining another location in Canberra, the Canberra Airport.

“Along with the Belconnen community I fought to ensure the DIBP remained in its current location with the same staffing footprint, and I’m pleased that we won that fight,” Senator Seselja said today.

“Our Government is the first ever to take into consideration local impacts on Canberra before making a decision regarding departmental accommodation and today’s announcement shows just how important this was. The decision to take into account local impacts was a direct result of my representations to the Finance Minister on behalf of the people of Belconnen.

“We now have certainty for businesses and staff located at the Belconnen Town Centre.

“We all know that the presence of government departments in our Town Centres is critical to maintaining the viability of many local small businesses. This is how Canberra was designed and we need to protect that.

“A move of the DIBP from Belconnen Town Centre would not have been in the best interest of the Belconnen Community. It was vital to ensure this did not happen.

“This is also welcome news for Canberra Airport, with staff anticipated to move to the new location from September 2018. Facilities and businesses around the airport will benefit from the increase in staff in the area.

“I will continue to fight for our town centres and will ensure the concerns of my community are heard,” Senator Seselja concluded.

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