The Immigration Minister has confirmed that the government will transfer asylum seekers from Christmas Island to a mining camp in remote Western Australia.
Chris Evans says around 30 families will be sent to Leonora, a mining town north of Kalgoolie, later this week.
The Immigration Minister confirmed the plan was a temporary measure to counter capacity constraints on Christmas Island.
It is understood about 30 families will be moved to the gold mining town north of Kalgoorlie and about 800 kilometres northeast of Perth.
"This temporary, short-term accommodation will provide an alternative and more suitable option to the use of motels or serviced apartments, for instance," Senator Evans said.
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A number of other mainland locations were also considered. Senator Evans said consultations with Western Australian government officials would continue about possible alternative long-term sites for the detention of irregular maritime arrivals
