Editing Christmas Island (section)

==History==
[[File:Ah Dampier, you would have made them but a sorry meal. (Dampier and Swan on the Cygnet).jpg|thumb|left|[[William Dampier]] (left) and Charles Swan (right) aboard the latter's ship ''Cygnet'', as illustrated in a work by [[Jules Verne]]. Dampier was the first visitor to Christmas Island in 1688.]]

===First visits by Europeans, 1643===
The first European to sight the island was Richard Rowe of the ''Thomas'' in 1615.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |last1=James |first1=David J. |last2=Mcallan |first2=Ian A.W. |title=The birds of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean: A review |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274639116 |website=ResearchGate |publisher=Australian Field Ornithology |access-date=20 January 2017 |date=August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202000221/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274639116_The_birds_of_Christmas_Island_Indian_Ocean_A_review |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Captain [[William Mynors]] of the [[East India Company]] vessel ''Royal Mary'' named the island when he sailed past it on Christmas Day in 1643.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/christmas/culture-history/island-history.html |title=Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts – Christmas Island History |publisher=Australian Government |access-date=26 April 2009 |date=8 July 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304001240/http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/christmas/culture-history/island-history.html |archive-date=4 March 2012 }}</ref> The island was included on English and Dutch navigation charts early in the 17th century, but it was not until 1666 that a map published by Dutch cartographer [[Pieter Goos]] included the island. Goos labelled the island "Mony" or "Moni",<ref name=EB1911>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Christmas Island |volume=6 |pages=294–295}}</ref> the meaning of which is unclear.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nla.gov.au/apps/cdview?pi=nla.map-nk1574-sd&rgn=0.5309855310%2C0.5141004862%2C0.6401856402%2C0.6437601297&cmd=zoomin&width=400&x=200&y=199 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805120217/http://www.nla.gov.au/apps/cdview?pi=nla.map-nk1574-sd&rgn=0.5309855310,0.5141004862,0.6401856402,0.6437601297&cmd=zoomin&width=400&x=200&y=199 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 August 2012 |title=Digital Collections – Maps – Goos, Pieter, ca. 1616–1675. Paskaerte Zynde t'Oosterdeel Van Oost Indien (cartographic material) : met alle de Eylanden deer ontrendt geleegen van C. Comorin tot aen Iapan |publisher=National Library of Australia |access-date=26 April 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The naming of Christmas Island |url=https://australiapostcollectables.com.au/articles/the-naming-of-christmas-island |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Australia Post Collectables |language=en}}</ref>

English navigator [[William Dampier]], aboard the privateer [[Charles Swan (pirate)|Charles Swan]]'s ship ''Cygnet'', made the earliest recorded visit to the sea around the island in March 1688.<ref name=EB1911/> In writing his account, he found the island uninhabited.<ref name=EB1911/><ref>{{cite book |last=Carney |first= Gerard |title=The constitutional systems of the Australian states and territories |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |year=2006 |isbn=0-521-86305-8 |page=477 |quote=The uninhabited island was named on Christmas Day, 1643, by Captain William Mynors as he sailed past, leaving to William Dampier the honour of first landing ashore in 1688.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=A New Voyage Round the World |last=Dampier |first=William |author-link=William Dampier |year=1703 |publisher=James Knapton |location=The Crown in St.&nbsp;Paul's Church-yard, London, England}}</ref> Dampier was trying to reach [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands|Cocos]] from [[New Holland (Australia)|New Holland]]. His ship was blown off course in an easterly direction, arriving at Christmas Island 28 days later. Dampier landed on the west coast, at "the [[The Dales (Christmas Island)|Dales]]". Two of his crewmen became the first Europeans to set foot on Christmas Island.<ref>{{cite web |title=Where is Christmas Island? |url=http://www.hamiltonstampclub.com/christmas-islands.html |website=Hamilton Stamp Club |access-date=18 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820120024/http://www.hamiltonstampclub.com/christmas-islands.html |archive-date=20 August 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Captain Daniel Beeckman of the ''Eagle'' passed the island on 5 April 1714, chronicled in his 1718 book, ''A Voyage to and from the Island of Borneo, in the East-Indies''.<ref name=":2">{{cite journal |last=Gibson-Hill |first=Carl Alexander |author-link=Carl Alexander Gibson-Hill |date=1949 |title=The Early History of Christmas Island, in the Indian Ocean |url= |journal=[[Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society]] |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=72–76 }}</ref>

===Exploration and annexation===
The first attempt at exploring the island was made in 1857 by Captain Sidney Grenfell of the frigate {{HMS|Amethyst|1844|6}}. An expedition crew were sent ashore with instructions to reach the summit of the plateau, but they failed to find a route up the inland cliff and were forced to turn back.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> During the [[Challenger expedition|1872–1876 ''Challenger'' expedition]] to Indonesia, naturalist [[John Murray (oceanographer)|John Murray]] carried out extensive surveys.<ref name="Tourism">{{cite web |title=History |url=http://www.christmas.net.au/about/history.html |publisher=Christmas Island Tourism Association |access-date=18 September 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208180546/http://www.christmas.net.au/about/history.html |archive-date=8 December 2014 }}</ref>

In 1886, Captain [[John Maclear]] of {{HMS|Flying Fish|1873|6}}, having discovered an anchorage in a bay that he named "Flying Fish Cove", landed a party and made a small collection of the flora and fauna.<ref name="EB1911" /> In the next year, [[Pelham Aldrich]], on board {{HMS|Egeria|1873|6}}, visited the island for 10 days, accompanied by [[Joseph Jackson Lister (naturalist)|J.&nbsp;J.&nbsp;Lister]], who gathered a larger biological and mineralogical collection.<ref name="EB1911" /> Among the rocks then obtained and submitted to Murray for examination were many of nearly pure [[phosphate of lime]]. This discovery led to annexation of the island by the British Crown on 6&nbsp;June 1888.<ref name="Tourism" />

===Settlement and exploitation===
[[File:Flying Fish Cove at Christmas Island.jpg|thumb|right|The Settlement, also called [[Flying Fish Cove]], Christmas Island's capital]]
Soon afterwards, a small settlement was established in Flying Fish Cove by [[Clunies-Ross Family|G. Clunies Ross]], the owner of the [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]] some {{convert|900|km}} to the southwest, to collect timber and supplies for the growing industry on Cocos. In 1897 the island was visited by [[Charles William Andrews|Charles W. Andrews]], who did extensive research on the natural history of the island, on behalf of the [[British Museum]].<ref name="Andrews">{{cite journal |url=http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&fid=5316016&jid=GEO&volumeId=7&issueId=07&aid=5316008 |volume=II |title=A Monograph of Christmas Island |series=Indian Ocean: Physical Features and Geology |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805060407/http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&fid=5316016&jid=GEO&volumeId=7&issueId=07&aid=5316008 |archive-date=5 August 2011 |first=Charles W. |last=Andrews |journal=Geological Magazine |quote=With descriptions of the fauna and flora by numerous contributors. [[octavo|8vo]]; xiii+337&nbsp;pp., 22&nbsp;plates, 1&nbsp;map, text illustrated. |publisher=British Museum |place=London, UK |year=1900|issue=7 |pages=330–331 |doi=10.1017/S0016756800174461 }}</ref>

Phosphate mining began in 1899 using indentured workers from Singapore, [[British Malaya]], and China. John Davis Murray, a mechanical engineer and recent graduate of [[Purdue University]], was sent to supervise the operation on behalf of the Phosphate Mining and Shipping Company. Murray was known as the "King of Christmas Island" until 1910, when he married and settled in London.<ref>{{cite book |title=A Handy Book of Curious Information |url=https://archive.org/details/ahandybookcurio00walsgoog |first=William |last=Walsh |year=1913 |page=447 |publisher=Lippincott |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Jupp |first1=James |title=The Australian People: An encyclopedia of the nation, its people, and their origins |year=2001 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, UK |isbn=9780521807890 |page=225 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wgoFxfSTfYAC&pg=PA225 |access-date=2 January 2017 |chapter=Christmas Islanders |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103165431/https://books.google.com.au/books?id=wgoFxfSTfYAC&pg=PA225|archive-date=3 January 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The island was administered jointly by the British Phosphate commissioners and district officers from the United Kingdom [[Colonial Office]] through the [[Straits Settlements]], and later the [[Colony of Singapore|Crown Colony of Singapore]]. Hunt (2011) provides a detailed history of Chinese indentured labour on the island during those years. In 1922, scientists unsuccessfully attempted to view [[Solar eclipse of September 21, 1922|a solar eclipse in late September]] from the island to test [[Albert Einstein]]'s [[theory of relativity]].<ref name=Hunt2012>{{cite news |first=John |last=Hunt |title=Eclipse on Christmas Island |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |date=5 September 2012}}</ref>

===Japanese invasion===
{{main|Battle of Christmas Island}}
From the outbreak of the [[South-East Asian theatre of World War II]] in December&nbsp;1941, Christmas Island was a target for Japanese occupation because of its rich phosphate deposits.<ref name=Klemen/> A naval gun was installed under a British officer, four [[non-commissioned officer]]s (NCOs) and 27&nbsp;Indian soldiers.<ref name="Klemen">{{Cite web |last=Klemen |first=L. |date=1999–2000 |title=The Mystery of Christmas Island, March&nbsp;1942 |url=https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/christmas.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121080434/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/christmas.html |archive-date=21 January 2016 |access-date=16 July 2011 |website=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942}}</ref> The first attack was carried out on 20&nbsp;January 1942 by the {{Jsub|I-59}}, which torpedoed the Norwegian freighter ''Eidsvold''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=L. |first=Klemen |date=1999–2000 |title=Allied Merchant Ship Losses in the Pacific and Southeast Asia |url=https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/allied_losses.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514072436/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/allied_losses.html |archive-date=14 May 2012 |access-date=16 July 2011 |website=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942}}</ref> The vessel drifted and eventually sank off West White Beach. Most of the European and Asian staff and their families were evacuated to [[Perth]].

In late February and early March&nbsp;1942, there were two aerial bombing raids. Shelling from a Japanese naval group on 7&nbsp;March led the [[district officer]] to hoist the [[white flag]].<ref name=Klemen/> But after the Japanese naval group sailed away, the British officer raised the [[Union Flag]] once more.<ref name=Klemen/> During the night of 10–11&nbsp;March, mutinous Indian troops, abetted by [[Sikh]] policemen, killed an officer and the four British NCOs in their quarters as they were sleeping. "Afterwards all Europeans on the island, including the district officer, who governed it, were lined up by the Indians and told they were going to be shot. But after a long discussion between the district officer and the leaders of the mutineers the executions were postponed and the Europeans were confined under armed guard in the district officer's house".<ref name=Klemen/>

At dawn on 31&nbsp;March 1942, a dozen Japanese bomber aircraft launched an attack, destroying the radio station. The same day, a Japanese fleet of nine vessels arrived, and the island was surrounded. About 850&nbsp;men of the Japanese 21st and 24th&nbsp;[[Imperial Japanese Navy Land Forces|Special Base Forces]] and 102nd&nbsp;Construction Unit came ashore at Flying Fish Cove and occupied the island.<ref name=Klemen/> They rounded up the workforce, most of whom had fled to the jungle. Sabotaged equipment was repaired, and preparations were made to resume the mining and export of phosphate. Only 20 men from the 21st&nbsp;Special Base Force were left as a garrison.<ref name=Klemen/>

Isolated acts of sabotage and the torpedoing of the cargo ship {{ship||Nissei Maru}} at the wharf on 17 November 1942<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cressman |first=Robert J. |title=Chapter IV: 1942 |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1942.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820205155/http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1942.html |archive-date=20 August 2011 |access-date=16 July 2011 |website=Hyperwar |series=The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War&nbsp;II}}</ref> meant that only small amounts of phosphate were exported to Japan during the occupation. In November&nbsp;1943, over 60% of the island's population were evacuated to [[Surabaya]] prison camps, leaving a population of just under 500&nbsp;Chinese and Malays and 15&nbsp;Japanese to survive as best they could. In October&nbsp;1945, {{HMS|Rother|K224|6}} re-occupied Christmas Island.<ref>Public Record Office, England War Office and Colonial Office Correspondence/Straits Settlements.</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=J. Pettigrew |year=1962 |title=Christmas Island in World War II |journal=Australian Territories |volume=2 |issue=1}}</ref><ref>Interviews conducted by J. G. Hunt with Island residents, 1973–1977.</ref><ref>Correspondence J. G. Hunt with former Island residents, 1973–1979.</ref>

After the war, seven mutineers were traced and prosecuted by the Military Court in Singapore. In 1947, five of them were [[capital punishment|sentenced to death]]. However, following representations made by the newly independent government of India, their sentences were reduced to [[penal labor|penal servitude]] for [[life imprisonment|life]].<ref name=Klemen/>

===Transfer to Australia===
The United Kingdom transferred sovereignty of Christmas Island to Australia at the latter's request, with a $20&nbsp;million payment from the Australian government to [[Colony of Singapore|Singapore]] as compensation for the loss of earnings from the phosphate revenue.<ref>{{cite AV media |department=Department of External Affairs in Australia |date=16 May 1957 |title=Report from the Australian High Commission in Singapore to the Department of External Affairs in Australia |place=Singapore |publisher=National Archives of Singapore |medium=microfilm |id=NAB 447}}</ref> The United Kingdom's Christmas Island Act was given royal assent on 14&nbsp;May 1958 by Queen Elizabeth II, enabling Britain to transfer authority over Christmas Island from Singapore to Australia by an order-in-council.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19580516.2.20.2.aspx |title=All set for transfer. |date=16 May 1958 |newspaper=The Straits Times |page=2 |access-date=8 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906024518/http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19580516.2.20.2.aspx |archive-date=6 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Australia's Christmas Island Act was passed in September&nbsp;1958, and the island was officially placed under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia on 1&nbsp;October 1958.<ref>{{cite report |url=http://eservice.nlb.gov.sg/item_holding_s.aspx?bid=13849897 |author=Kerr, A. |year=2009 |title=A federation in these seas: An account of the acquisition by Australia of its external territories, with selected documents |publisher=Attorney General's Dept. (A.C.T. Barton) |page=329 |id=call no.: R 325.394 KER |access-date=8 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903213829/http://eservice.nlb.gov.sg/item_holding_s.aspx?bid=13849897 |archive-date=3 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> This transfer did not see any process involving the local population, who could remain Singaporean citizens or obtain Australian citizenship. Links between Singapore and Christmas Island have occasionally reemerged in Singaporean politics and in [[Australia–Singapore relations]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/diego-garcia-unnerving-neighbours-raising-ghosts |title=Diego Garcia: Unnerving neighbours and raising ghosts |author=Ashton Robinson |work=The Interpreter |date=18 December 2019 |access-date=4 October 2024}}</ref><ref name="Chan2022">{{cite journal |author1=Ying-kit Chan |title=Who, or What, is Lost: Singapore's Impressions of Christmas Island, c. 1960–1990 |journal=MANUSYA: Journal of Humanities |volume=25 |pages=1–16 |year=2022 |url=http://www.manusya.journals.chula.ac.th/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/MNYA_025_01_innerwork-22-37.pdf |doi=10.1163/26659077-24030009}}</ref>

Under Commonwealth Cabinet Decision 1573 of 9&nbsp;September 1958, D.E. Nickels was appointed the first official representative of the new territory.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1200578 |title=Mr.&nbsp;D.E. Nickels and Mrs.&nbsp;Nickels interviewed by Jan Adams in the Christmas Island life story oral history project|journal=Christmas Island Life Story Oral History Project |year=1986 |publisher=National Library of Australia |access-date=13 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317123411/http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1200578 |archive-date=17 March 2014 |url-status=live|last1=Nickels |first1=D. E. |last2=Neale |first2=Margo |last3=Adams |first3=Jan }}</ref> In a media statement on 5&nbsp;August 1960, the [[Australian Federal Minister for Territories|minister for territories]], [[Paul Hasluck]], said, among other things, that, "His extensive knowledge of the Malay language and the customs of the Asian people ... has proved invaluable in the inauguration of Australian administration ... During his two years on the island he had faced unavoidable difficulties ... and constantly sought to advance the island's interests."

[[John William Stokes]] succeeded Nickels and served from 1 October 1960, to 12 June 1966. On his departure, he was lauded by all sectors of the island community. In 1968, the official secretary was retitled an administrator and, since 1997, Christmas Island and the [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]] together are called the [[Australian Indian Ocean Territories]] and share a single administrator resident on Christmas Island.

The village of [[Silver City, Christmas Island|Silver City]] was built in the 1970s, with aluminium-clad houses that were supposed to be [[cyclone]]-proof.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/nature/island/ep2/about4.htm |title=Island Life – Christmas Island – About |website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date=26 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020208135014/http://www.abc.net.au/nature/island/ep2/about4.htm |archive-date=8 February 2002 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami]], centred off the western shore of [[Sumatra]] in Indonesia, resulted in no reported casualties, but some swimmers were swept some {{convert|150|m|ft}} out to sea for a time before being swept back in.<ref>Main article: [[Countries affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]]</ref>

===Refugee and immigration detention===
{{see also|Christmas Island Immigration Reception and Processing Centre}}
[[File:Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre and the Lilac compound (5775019842).jpg|thumb|left|Immigration Detention Centre]]From the late 1980s and early 1990s, boats carrying [[asylum seekers]], mainly departing from Indonesia, began landing on the island. In 2001, Christmas Island was the site of the [[Tampa affair|''Tampa'' controversy]], in which the Australian government stopped a Norwegian ship, [[MV Tampa|MV ''Tampa'']], from disembarking 438&nbsp;rescued asylum-seekers. The ensuing standoff and the associated political reactions in Australia were a major issue in the [[2001 Australian federal election]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Fowler |first=Connie |url=http://diemperdidi.info/nordicnotes/vol07/articles/thetampacrisis.html |title=Karsten Klepsuik, John Howard, and the Tampa Crisis: Good Luck or Good Management? |publisher=Celsius Centre for Scandinavian Studies ([[Flinders University]]) |work=Nordic Notes |issn=1442-5165 |volume=7 |year=2003 |access-date=19 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425120631/http://diemperdidi.info/nordicnotes/vol07/articles/thetampacrisis.html |archive-date=25 April 2012 }}</ref>

The [[Howard government]] operated the "[[Pacific Solution]]" from 2001 to 2007, excising Christmas Island from [[Australian migration zone|Australia's migration zone]] so that asylum seekers on the island could not apply for [[refugee status]]. Asylum seekers were relocated from Christmas Island to [[Manus Island]] and [[Nauru]]. In 2006, an [[Christmas Island Immigration Reception and Processing Centre|immigration detention centre]], containing approximately 800 beds, was constructed on the island for the [[Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (2006–07)|Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs]]. Originally estimated to cost {{AUD|276}}&nbsp;million,<ref>{{cite report |author1=((Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia)) |title=Update Report: The Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre Project |date=September 2008 |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |location=Canberra |isbn=978-0-642-79078-1 |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Completed_Inquiries/pwc/christmasisland08/report |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225122442/http://www.aph.gov.au/binaries/house/committee/pwc/christmasisland08/report/fullreport.pdf |archive-date=25 February 2014}}</ref> the final cost was over $400&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |title=Detention on Christmas Island |url=https://www.amnesty.org.au/refugees/comments/20442/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817061144/http://www.amnesty.org.au/refugees/comments/20442/ |archive-date=17 August 2010 |publisher=Amnesty International |date=10 March 2009 |access-date=26 April 2009}}</ref> In 2007, the [[First Rudd Government|Rudd government]] decommissioned [[Manus Regional Processing Centre]] and [[Nauru detention centre]]; processing would then occur on Christmas Island itself.<ref name="Close Nauru Manus">{{cite web |title=Savings for Labor's Better Priorities: Close Nauru and Manus Island detention centres |work=Public release of costing |url=http://archive.electioncostings.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0007/64519/ALP032_Public_Release_of_Costing_-_Savings_for_Labors_Better_Priorities_-_Close_Nauru_and_Manus_Island_detention_centres.rtf |publisher=electioncostings.gov.au |date=15 November 2007 |format=[[Rich Text Format|RTF]] download |access-date=19 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512212932/http://archive.electioncostings.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0007/64519/ALP032_Public_Release_of_Costing_-_Savings_for_Labors_Better_Priorities_-_Close_Nauru_and_Manus_Island_detention_centres.rtf |archive-date=12 May 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/world/asia/05island.html |title=Australia puts its refugee problem on a remote island, behind razor wire |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=5 November 2009 |access-date=24 February 2017 |archive-date=16 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316040048/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/world/asia/05island.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In December&nbsp;2010, 48&nbsp;asylum-seekers died just off the coast of the island in what became known as the [[2010 Christmas Island boat disaster|Christmas Island boat disaster]] when their boat hit the rocks near Flying Fish Cove, and then smashed against nearby cliffs.<ref>{{cite news |title=Doomed asylum seekers' boat not being tracked by Customs: minister |url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/they-were-screaming-help-help-help-20101215-18ya5.html |date=16 December 2010 |access-date=16 December 2010 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |first1=Kirsty |last1=Needham |first2=Andrew |last2=Stevenson |first3=Tom |last3=Allard}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Leaders pay tribute to asylum shipwreck victims |publisher=ABC |agency=ABC/AAP |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/09/3134412.htm?section=justin |date=9 February 2011 |access-date=22 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628232051/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/09/3134412.htm?section=justin| archive-date=28 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In the case [[Plaintiff M61/2010E v Commonwealth|''Plaintiff M61/2010E v Commonwealth of Australia'']], the [[High Court of Australia]] ruled, in a 7–0 joint judgment, that asylum seekers detained on Christmas Island were entitled to the protections of the [[Migration Act 1958|Migration Act.]] Accordingly, the Commonwealth was obliged to afford asylum seekers a minimum of procedural fairness when assessing their claims.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apo.org.au/resource/offshore-processing-has-bar-been-lifted |title=Offshore processing: Has the bar been lifted? |last=Hume |first=David |date=25 November 2010 |access-date=17 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701092328/http://apo.org.au/resource/offshore-processing-has-bar-been-lifted |archive-date=1 July 2016 }}</ref> {{as of|2013|June|20}}, after the interception of four boats in six days, carrying 350&nbsp;people, the Immigration Department stated that there were 2,960&nbsp;"irregular maritime arrivals" being held in the island's five detention facilities, which exceeded not only the "regular operating capacity" of 1,094&nbsp;people, but also the "contingency capacity" of 2,724.<ref name="beyond capacity">{{cite news |last=Rintoul |first=Stuart |title=Pre-election surge pushes island centres far beyond capacity |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/immigration/pre-election-surge-pushes-island-centres-far-beyond-capacity/story-fn9hm1gu-1226666528991 |access-date=20 June 2013 |newspaper=The Australian |date=19 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620075259/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/immigration/pre-election-surge-pushes-island-centres-far-beyond-capacity/story-fn9hm1gu-1226666528991 |archive-date=20 June 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Christmas Island Immigration Reception and Processing Centre closed in September 2018.<ref name="Christmas Island detention centre closure">{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/after-10-years-the-notorious-christmas-island-detention-centre-has-quietly-closed-20181004-p507r0.html |title=After 10&nbsp;years, the notorious Christmas Island detention centre has quietly closed |date=4 October 2018 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=5 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206001543/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/after-10-years-the-notorious-christmas-island-detention-centre-has-quietly-closed-20181004-p507r0.html |archive-date=6 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Morrison government announced it would re-open the centre in February the following year, after Australia's parliament passed legislation giving sick asylum seekers easier access to mainland hospitals.<ref>{{cite news |title=Christmas Island: Australia to reopen controversial migrant detention camp |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/christmas-island-detention-camp-reopened-australia-asylum-seekers-hospital-scott-morrison-a8776566.html |newspaper=The Independent |access-date=13 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213050014/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/christmas-island-detention-camp-reopened-australia-asylum-seekers-hospital-scott-morrison-a8776566.html |archive-date=13 February 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the early days of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the government opened parts of the Immigration Reception and Processing Centre to be used as a quarantine facility to accommodate Australian citizens who had been in [[Wuhan]], the point of origin of the pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |url =https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-18/coronavirus-quarantine-binney-family-home-sunshine-coast/11975244 |title =Queensland family arrive home after coronavirus quarantine on Christmas Island |first1 =Tara |first2 =Sally |last1 =Cassidy |last2 =Rafferty |website =ABC News |date =18 February 2020 |publisher =Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date =28 February 2020 |archive-date =28 February 2020 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20200228133111/https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-18/coronavirus-quarantine-binney-family-home-sunshine-coast/11975244 |url-status =live }}</ref> The evacuees arrived on 3 February.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Handley |first1=Erin |title=From Wuhan to Australia: A timeline of key events in the spread of the deadly coronavirus |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-29/coronavirus-timeline-from-wuhan-china-to-global-crisis/11903298 |website=ABC Australia News |date=29 January 2020 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=30 March 2020 |archive-date=29 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329051830/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-29/coronavirus-timeline-from-wuhan-china-to-global-crisis/11903298 |url-status=live }}</ref> They left 14 days later to their homes on the mainland.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-17/australian-evacuees-from-wuhan-to-christmas-island-arrive-home/11971174|title=Emotional, exhausted coronavirus evacuees finally make it home after two weeks quarantined on 'notorious' island|date=17 February 2020|newspaper=ABC News|access-date=3 June 2020|archive-date=28 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628090611/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-17/australian-evacuees-from-wuhan-to-christmas-island-arrive-home/11971174|url-status=live}}</ref>