The refugee rights advocate and barrister said on Sunday that the Abbott government’s refugee policies could be replaced by money-saving measures that would have the happy consequence of stopping the detention of men, women and children on Nauru and Manus Island. 

Speaking at an event organised by the local chapter of Grandmothers Against Children in Detention, Mr Burnside laid out a plan he said would boost both regional towns and cities and help refugees. 

This involves limiting detention to one month on Australian soil before setting refugees up in regional towns and cities with the right to work. 

“I did some sums on this. Let’s assume that the annual arrival rate stabilises at (25,000) a year...let’s suppose that every one of them is settled for the time being in regional towns, and let’s suppose that every single one of them stays unemployed on full Centrelink benefits,” he said. 

“What does that cost the federal economy? $500 million a year. All of which would be spent in regional towns and cities. What are we spending now, damaging people? $5000 million a year. For 10 per cent of the present spend, we could do good for refugees, instead of harming them, and we could do a lot of good for regional Australia.”  

Speaking at the Ballarat Library to a large audience, Mr Burnside reflected on both his experience in the sector – beginning with the Tampa affair in 2001 – and how conditions are in the refugee camps currently.

Those listening in included the grandmothers, refugees in legal limbo as well as several heavy-hitters from around town.  

His argument was punctuated with the recent moves of financial heavy hitters against the operator of both Naura and Manus Island, Transfield Services. 

Conditions in both camps have been back on the national agenda this week after superannuation funds pulled their money from Transfield Services, which operates the Nauru and Manus Island facilities, over continued reports of violence and sexual abuse.  

HESTA sold out completely last week and First State Super had also sold down its Transfield shares. 

Funds management firm Allen Gray, which controls 19 per cent of Transfield, also said during the week its holding was under review for governance risks.