Return Sri Lanka boat people - Australia’s opposition
September 2, 2012 12:50 pm
The Australian Government should arrange with Sri Lanka to transfer boat people from the island nation who are intercepted in Australian waters back to the southern Asian nation, the Coalition says.
Australian authorities intercepted a boat carrying 81 suspected asylum seekers north-northwest of Cocos (Keeling) Islands on Saturday.
The country’s Opposition said the boat appeared to have come from Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka was making significant efforts to prevent asylum boats from leaving its waters, opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop and immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said.
“However, those who make it through should be the subject of a new arrangement for immediate transfer back to Sri Lanka without setting foot on Australian soil,” they said in a joint statement today.
They said most Sri Lankans’ claims for asylum were rejected, with the bulk proven to be economic migrants, while many received negative security assessments from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).
Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare said ACV Hervey Bay, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted the boat.
It was the 10th boat to be intercepted by Australian authorities since August 22. The boats carried a total of 650 suspected asylum seekers.
Border Protection Command have transferred the 81 people on board the latest boat to the Cocos Islands.
They will be transferred to Christmas Island for initial security, health and identity checks.
Mr Clare said people arriving by boat without a visa after August 13, 2012, ran the risk of transfer to a regional processing nation. – AAP
Australian authorities intercepted a boat carrying 81 suspected asylum seekers north-northwest of Cocos (Keeling) Islands on Saturday.
The country’s Opposition said the boat appeared to have come from Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka was making significant efforts to prevent asylum boats from leaving its waters, opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop and immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said.
“However, those who make it through should be the subject of a new arrangement for immediate transfer back to Sri Lanka without setting foot on Australian soil,” they said in a joint statement today.
They said most Sri Lankans’ claims for asylum were rejected, with the bulk proven to be economic migrants, while many received negative security assessments from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).
Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare said ACV Hervey Bay, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted the boat.
It was the 10th boat to be intercepted by Australian authorities since August 22. The boats carried a total of 650 suspected asylum seekers.
Border Protection Command have transferred the 81 people on board the latest boat to the Cocos Islands.
They will be transferred to Christmas Island for initial security, health and identity checks.
Mr Clare said people arriving by boat without a visa after August 13, 2012, ran the risk of transfer to a regional processing nation. – AAP
