AU: Government suspends processing of Sri Lankan, Afghan asylum claims

• From: AAP
• April 09, 2010 11:38AM

Sri Lankan refugees aboard a boat in Indonesia. Picture: Oka Budhi

• Suspension is effective immediately
• Will last for months
• "Sends strong message to smugglers"

AUSTRALIA has suspended the processing of all immigration claims from Sri Lankan and Afghan asylum seekers.

"The decision has been made in the light of changing circumstances in both Afghanistan and Sri Lanka," Immigration Minister Chris Evans said.

"The likelihood of people being refused visas and being returned safely to their homelands will increase."

The suspension is effective immediately.

The Government will review the situation in Sri Lanka after a period of three months and in Afghanistan after a period of six months.

Senator Evans said the Government would continue processing claims from those already on Christmas Island or on the way there, and that all "irregular" maritime arrivals would continue to be taken to Christmas Island, where people would be treated humanely.

While new asylum claims from Sri Lankan and Afghan nationals would not be processed in the suspension period, health and security checks would continue, he said.

Senator Evans says the detention facility on Christmas Island is "stretched" to the limit because of the recent influx of boat arrivals. But further capacity will be ready in "a matter of days", he said, adding the detention facility in Darwin was also available for use.

'Hard line approach'

Senator Evans said the Government had taken a hard line approach to people smuggling and this decision would further strengthen the integrity of Australia's immigration system. He would not speculate on what impact the suspension may have on boat arrivals.

"But I will say that today's announcement makes it clear to all that the change in circumstances in both these countries will make it more likely that a visa application will be refused," he said.

New measures to combat the financing of people smuggling will also be introduced.

"The changes we're announcing today send a strong message to people smugglers that they cannot guarantee a visa outcome for their clients," Senator Evans said.

It sent a message to those seeking to employ people smugglers that they may be returned to their country of origin.

Senator Evans said the Government would continue to protect people in need, but would not hesitate to "act decisively" against those who sought to profit from them.

Sri Lanka 'in transition'

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Sri Lanka was a country in transition, following its recent parliamentary election.

"That evolution is the basis of the Government's decision to suspend processing so far as new asylum seekers from Sri Lanka is concerned," he said.

In Afghanistan there was now better security as well as constitutional and legal reform, Mr Smith said.

The decision to make the changes had been taken very "carefully, thoughtfully and methodically".

He noted a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees review had also been taken into account.

"We have always had uppermost in our minds the need to ensure that we continue to discharge our obligations and international law," he said.

'Criminal intelligence fusion centre'

Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said part of the Government's new approach to combating people smugglers would be the creation of a so-called "criminal intelligence fusion centre".

"Stronger regulation is needed to ensure more reliable financial intelligence," he said.

"We need to ensure we change Austrac's rules.

"The Government also proposes a more comprehensive regulatory regime for remittance dealers to be implemented following consultation with the financial services sector."

The announcement came shortly after the Government revealed the interception of a boat, carrying 70 asylum seekers, near Christmas Island last night. The passengers were rescued from their floundering vessel after it issued a distress call, saying its engine had failed.

It was the 38th boat to arrive in Australian waters this year.

The new measures also follow the concerns of a United Nations official who said governments needed new solutions to deal with "out of control" people smuggling as thousands of asylum seekers try to reach Australia via Indonesia.

Manuel Jordao, a senior representative of The United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Indonesia, says a large number of almost 4000 asylum seekers on the UNHCR's books in the archipelago will try to reach Australia by boat, rather than wait for resettlement via official channels.

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