GOVERNMENT RAMPS UP SECURITY TO DETER PEOPLE SMUGGLERS
* Police, the military and Australian Border Force have been working on "contingency plans" in the event laws related to asylum seekers in offshore detention are changed.
* Cabinet's National Security Committee met on Wednesday to receive their advice.
* As a result, a "range of strengthenings" will boost Operation Sovereign Borders.
* Certain details of the stronger capacity won't be publicly revealed.
* But Christmas Island detention facility will be reopened to deal with "the prospect of arrivals as well as dealing with the prospect of (medivac) transfers".
* The Department of Home Affairs will produce an "implementation report", which could lead to further changes.
THE COST
* Detainee transfers to Australia $21.5 million
* Home Affairs staffing and administration for transfers $24.5 million
* Christmas Island service provider costs $1.224 billion
* Christmas Island staffing and administration $167 million
* Does not take into account cost of any potential new arrivals
(Source: Prime Minister's Office)
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