Unauthorised maritime arrivals will never be settled in Australia

From 19 July 2013, asylum seekers coming to Australia by boat will not be settled in Australia. They will be transferred to Papua New Guinea (PNG) for their claims to be processed. If they are found to be refugees, they will be settled in PNG. If they are found not to be refugees, they will be returned to their own country, or a third country, or remain in a transit facility in PNG.

This strong message is part of a new regional settlement arrangement signed between Australia and PNG on 19 July in a bid to stop asylum seekers arriving in Australia by boat and to combat people smuggling.

The new policy applies immediately and to everyone of whatever nationality, including Vietnamese. It also applies to children and pregnant women: exempting them from the agreement would simply encourage people smugglers to put them on boats to Australia, at great risk to their safety. Appropriate arrangements will be available for children and families in PNG.

“We are a compassionate nation and we will continue to deliver a strong humanitarian program,” said Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Attorney General Mark Dreyfus and Australian Minister for Immigration, Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Tony Burke in a joint press release on 19 July 2013. But “access to our humanitarian program must be through the international organisations which resettle people around the world, not through criminal operators who have pushed people onto unseaworthy vessels with tragic consequences”.

“The new arrangements will allow Australia to help more people who are genuinely in need and help prevent people smugglers from abusing our system”.

For further information on the new policy in both English and Vietnamese, please go to: http://www.immi.gov.au/visas/humanitarian/novisa/ and video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jysl0m2ZB70