The decision to return a young Iranian boy to Christmas Island after attending his father's funeral in Sydney has been criticised as stupid and bizarre.
IImmigration minister Chris Bowen says he will be moved out of detention, but not yet.
The eight-year-old Iranian child lost his parents and brother when the boat they were in was wrecked off the coast of Christmas Island in December last year.
He was flown to Sydney on Tuesday to attend the funeral of his father. The bodies of his mother and brother have not been found.
Christmas Island shire president Gordon Thomson has told ABC radio the government's decision to return the orphaned boy is stupid saying he's in a terrible way, and looks for his parents every time a bus brings a new group of refugees to Christmas Island.
But Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has continued to defend the decision to fly 22 asylum seekers back west today.
He says the Iranian boy clearly needs to be released into the community and will be very quickly after a few more checks and once appropriate care arrangements are in place.
The government had initially rejected his cousin's request to look after him.
But that option will now be considered, Mr Bowen says.
"Sensitively and appropriately he will be moved into the community," he said, noting that new laws to move children out of detention will be applied.
"It will apply to him urgently because he has been through a very traumatic situation."
The aunt of a nine-year-old Iranian boy orphaned in the Christmas Island boat tragedy says she hasn't been told of plans to release him from detention.
The boy is among 21 asylum seekers due to be flown back to Christmas Island on Thursday morning, after attending funeral services earlier this week.
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