Clive Palmer wants to visit asylum seeker children on Christmas Island CONTROVERSIAL billionaire-turned-MP, Clive Palmer, says he wants to visit the Christmas Island detention centre. As the Abbott government continues to be put under increasing pressure over its heightened secrecy surrounding asylum-seeker issues, the Queensland mining magnate says he wants to take a look at one of Australia's biggest detention facilities for himself. In a statement today Mr Palmer, who has just welcomed the birth of his daughter, said he would write to Immigration Minister Scott Morrison to seek approval for the visit. Asylum seekers on their boat arrive at Christmas Island. Clive Palmer wants to visit the detention centre. Mr Palmer said he was determined to ensure the children of asylum seekers were not denied a happy childhood just because their parents had been forced to seek refuge in Australia. "I have always believed that keeping children behind bars was wrong but the birth of my daughter Lucy last month has renewed by commitment to these kids," Mr Palmer said. Whether they took this dangerous voyage with their parents, or were born in detention, every child deserves a safe and loving upbringing with a range of experiences, not just the inside of a cell or an exercise yard. Mr Palmer, who's Palmer United Party advocates allowing asylum seekers to fly to Australia and be quickly processed at airports, said offshore processing as favoured by both major parties had increased the pain and suffering of genuine asylum seekers. Clive Palmer says he's determined to ensure the children of asylum seekers were not denied a happy childhood Source: News Limited Last year, a delegation of PUP federal election candidates undertook a fact-finding mission to Christmas Island. Christmas Island has been plagued with problems since it was opened as a detention centre by the Rudd government. It has been subject to overcrowding, asylum-seekers have conducted protests in which they sewed up their lips and tents and buildings were burned down in a riot. Recently a female asylum-seeker made allegations that she was sexually assaulted in the family compound of the facility. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young labels the government's Operation Sovereign Borders a 'sham' following the discovery of 27 asylum seekers living undetected on Christmas Island for four days.