Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has defended spending $185 million
The federal government reopened the mothballed facility after legislation passed against its will, making it easier for sick refugees on Manus Island and Nauru to seek medical transfers.
The government warned the laws would open the floodgates to hundreds of people.
The government has defended the $185m reopening of Christmas Island's immigration detention centre. Source: AAP
However, just one person has been evacuated since the laws took effect six weeks ago.
Scott Morrison tours the North West Point Detention Center on Christmas Island. Source: AAP
Mr Frydenberg dismissed suggestions reopening
"You could see it on the other way," he told the ABC's Insiders program on Sunday.
"Which is the so-called emergency that everybody else was talking about hadn't eventuated because what we've done by reopening Christmas Island is send a deterrent to people who would try to game the system."
The government intends to repeal the medical evacuation laws and close Christmas Island if it wins the upcoming election.
Australian Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has defended the decision. Source: AAP
"Our policy is to close it in July that's a publicly stated position and we'll do so given the first opportunity," Mr Frydenberg said.
