So says One Nation NSW Senator Brian Burston, who spoke on the contamination issue at Charlestown on Wednesday.

A week ago, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull increased Australia’s annual humanitarian intake permanently from 13,750 to 18,750.

In an interview with the Newcastle Herald, Mr Burston said: “Every refugee that comes into this country costs $100,000 extra in infrastructure costs over their lifetime”.

This included spending on things like hospitals and roads. 

Given this, the first intake of 5000 extra refugees would cost $500 million.

Mr Burston said the buyout of contaminated properties in the Williamtown-Salt Ash area could cost about $500 million.

He said a government minister had recently asked him how the buyout could be funded. His reply: By delaying the extra 5000 refugees for one year, the government would have the money.

“That’s only one option, but that’s an example that people can relate to,” he said.

He said the government was “worried about these refugees dying overseas”.

He said people could die from contamination at Williamtown-Salt Ash, adding “look after your own first”.

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson (Labor) disagreed, saying: “We don’t want to trade off the misery of one group of people for another”.