Australia ignores teenaged refugees in Indonesia until adulthood

Teenage refugees joining the so-called queue in Indonesia to apply officially for protection visas, instead of jumping on a boat, say they are being told Australia will not take them until they are 18 years old. The boys, who are stuck in limbo in Jakarta, said that even though they have been determined to be … Continue reading Australia ignores teenaged refugees in Indonesia until adulthood

Australian people fed up with growth in asylum-seeker numbers

The Australian people are completely fed up with the boatpeople saga. Chief among their concerns is a decent humanitarian desire to stop the drownings that accompany the people-smuggling trade. But that is not the whole story. The Australian people in their overwhelming majority want the national government to reassert national sovereignty over our borders. When … Continue reading Australian people fed up with growth in asylum-seeker numbers

Up to 25,000 asylum seekers expected in Australia this year

The immigration department vastly underestimated the number of asylum seekers expected to arrive in Australia this financial year, with up to 25,000 now expected – almost five times more than initial forecasts. Last year, the immigration department estimated just 5400 asylum seekers would arrive in Australia in 2012-13, before being forced to revise it to … Continue reading Up to 25,000 asylum seekers expected in Australia this year

Australian mainland now off limits for asylum seekers

The government and opposition have rejected a bid to open the offshore detention centres on Nauru and Papua New Guinea for inspection by Australia's Human Rights Commissioner. They have also blocked an attempt to give the Australian media the same access to the centres that it has to mainland and Christmas Island detention facilities. There … Continue reading Australian mainland now off limits for asylum seekers

Australian expert warns of more asylum seeker deaths at sea unless changes made

The Australian governments own immigration expert Paris Aristotle says it is ''absolutely certain'' there will be more asylum-seeker deaths at sea unless the government implements the full suite of measures recommended to it last year. In the wake of the deaths of two asylum-seekers this week Mr Aristotle, who is currently visiting the Nauru detention … Continue reading Australian expert warns of more asylum seeker deaths at sea unless changes made