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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/feb/05/refugees-may-face-monitoring-further-restrictions-leaked-document
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| Refugees may face monitoring and further restrictions, leaked document suggests | Refugees may face monitoring and further restrictions, leaked document suggests |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Turnbull government may consider toughening Australia’s humanitarian resettlement program, including increasing the screening and monitoring of refugees and making it harder to obtain permanent residency and citizenship. | The Turnbull government may consider toughening Australia’s humanitarian resettlement program, including increasing the screening and monitoring of refugees and making it harder to obtain permanent residency and citizenship. |
| A leaked government document marked “sensitive: cabinet” outlined the proposals and said “it has been established that there are links between recent onshore terrorist attacks and the humanitarian intake”. | A leaked government document marked “sensitive: cabinet” outlined the proposals and said “it has been established that there are links between recent onshore terrorist attacks and the humanitarian intake”. |
| The draft document, which was first reported by the ABC and has been seen by Guardian Australia, singled out the Lebanese community as the “most prominent ethnic group amongst Australian Sunni extremists”. | The draft document, which was first reported by the ABC and has been seen by Guardian Australia, singled out the Lebanese community as the “most prominent ethnic group amongst Australian Sunni extremists”. |
| The leak drew a swift reaction from the Labor opposition, which argued elements of the paper were “verging on bigotry and racism”, but the government said the document was merely a draft prepared by the immigration department and was yet to be seen by the minister, Peter Dutton. | The leak drew a swift reaction from the Labor opposition, which argued elements of the paper were “verging on bigotry and racism”, but the government said the document was merely a draft prepared by the immigration department and was yet to be seen by the minister, Peter Dutton. |
| Related: Most refugees feel welcome in Australia but housing among greatest hurdles | Related: Most refugees feel welcome in Australia but housing among greatest hurdles |
| Malcolm Turnbull did not respond directly to the proposals, saying only that the government would do everything it could to keep people safe while ensuring that “there is only one class of citizens in Australia”. | Malcolm Turnbull did not respond directly to the proposals, saying only that the government would do everything it could to keep people safe while ensuring that “there is only one class of citizens in Australia”. |
| The document said Dutton would present, in the first half of 2016, “a package of reforms to simplify Australia’s visa framework and create stronger controls over access to permanent residency and citizenship”. | The document said Dutton would present, in the first half of 2016, “a package of reforms to simplify Australia’s visa framework and create stronger controls over access to permanent residency and citizenship”. |
| This would include “an enforceable integration framework to assess aspiring migrants’ suitability for life in Australia”. | This would include “an enforceable integration framework to assess aspiring migrants’ suitability for life in Australia”. |
| In a nod to increased monitoring, the document suggested “enhanced access, use and protection of sensitive information to strengthen intelligence-led, risk-based decision making...from pre-visa stage through to post-citizenship conferral”. | In a nod to increased monitoring, the document suggested “enhanced access, use and protection of sensitive information to strengthen intelligence-led, risk-based decision making...from pre-visa stage through to post-citizenship conferral”. |
| A revamped citizenship test and citizenship pledge was proposed to “strengthen accountability for commitments made at citizenship conferral”. | A revamped citizenship test and citizenship pledge was proposed to “strengthen accountability for commitments made at citizenship conferral”. |
| It said tougher character, identity and security checks were being applied to the special intake of 12,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees. | It said tougher character, identity and security checks were being applied to the special intake of 12,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees. |
| “Nonetheless, it is expected that some refugees from this conflict will bring with them issues, beliefs or associations that lead them to advocate or engage in politically motivated or communal violence,” the document said. | “Nonetheless, it is expected that some refugees from this conflict will bring with them issues, beliefs or associations that lead them to advocate or engage in politically motivated or communal violence,” the document said. |
| “Close attention to the delivery of health, education, employment services and infrastructure that positively influence successful integration and social cohesion may assist to mitigate, but will not eliminate, the ongoing prospect that a small number of refugees will be susceptible to criminality and radicalisation.” | “Close attention to the delivery of health, education, employment services and infrastructure that positively influence successful integration and social cohesion may assist to mitigate, but will not eliminate, the ongoing prospect that a small number of refugees will be susceptible to criminality and radicalisation.” |
| The document proposed that the tougher screening criteria being used for the Syrian and Iraqi intake be applied entire humanitarian program “where possible...to help ensure that we accept individuals with a high probability of successful integration”. | The document proposed that the tougher screening criteria being used for the Syrian and Iraqi intake be applied entire humanitarian program “where possible...to help ensure that we accept individuals with a high probability of successful integration”. |
| In the section relating to the Lebanese community, the document said Australia’s previous intake from the Lebanese conflict “was largely from the poorer and uneducated Lebanese Muslim population”. | In the section relating to the Lebanese community, the document said Australia’s previous intake from the Lebanese conflict “was largely from the poorer and uneducated Lebanese Muslim population”. |
| “Consequently, this led to the transportation to Australia of a Sunni community which included elements who already held extremist beliefs, or who were more highly receptive to extremist messages,” it said. | “Consequently, this led to the transportation to Australia of a Sunni community which included elements who already held extremist beliefs, or who were more highly receptive to extremist messages,” it said. |
| “While there have been instances of extremist violence from within this community, most activities relate to the provision of ideological or political support and/or fundraising.” | “While there have been instances of extremist violence from within this community, most activities relate to the provision of ideological or political support and/or fundraising.” |
| A spokeswoman for Dutton said: “Government departments produce draft documents for consideration all the time. This is a draft document which has not been seen by the minister or his staff – nothing more.” | A spokeswoman for Dutton said: “Government departments produce draft documents for consideration all the time. This is a draft document which has not been seen by the minister or his staff – nothing more.” |
| But Labor’s immigration spokesman, Richard Marles, said the document contained “ill-considered and dangerous” proposals. | But Labor’s immigration spokesman, Richard Marles, said the document contained “ill-considered and dangerous” proposals. |
| “The document is verging on bigotry and racism,” he said. | “The document is verging on bigotry and racism,” he said. |
| Marles said people coming to Australia under the humanitarian program should have a “pathway to permanency” and he called on Turnbull to disavow the proposals. “If this is where the government is, it’s put a lie to the idea we’ve got an enlightened egalitarian prime minister,” he said. | Marles said people coming to Australia under the humanitarian program should have a “pathway to permanency” and he called on Turnbull to disavow the proposals. “If this is where the government is, it’s put a lie to the idea we’ve got an enlightened egalitarian prime minister,” he said. |
| The Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the government was “trying to whip up fear and hysteria around people seeking asylum” and she called on Turnbull to “decide what type of prime minister he really wants to be”. | The Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the government was “trying to whip up fear and hysteria around people seeking asylum” and she called on Turnbull to “decide what type of prime minister he really wants to be”. |
| The document stems from a decision by cabinet’s national security committee on 23 November to seek advice on Australia’s humanitarian resettlement services and the factors that contribute to successful integration. | The document stems from a decision by cabinet’s national security committee on 23 November to seek advice on Australia’s humanitarian resettlement services and the factors that contribute to successful integration. |
| Turnbull said he would not comment on a document he had not seen, and he was yet to discuss the matter with Dutton. | Turnbull said he would not comment on a document he had not seen, and he was yet to discuss the matter with Dutton. |
| “We will continue as a government to do everything we can to keep Australians safe at home and, as far as we are able to, safe abroad,” he told 5AA radio on Friday. | “We will continue as a government to do everything we can to keep Australians safe at home and, as far as we are able to, safe abroad,” he told 5AA radio on Friday. |
| “As far as future policies are concerned I can assure you that in terms of people’s rights there is only one class of citizens in Australia. All citizens have the same rights but they also have the same obligations and one of those obligations is obviously to obey the law. That applies whether you were born here or whether you took out your citizenship last week.” | “As far as future policies are concerned I can assure you that in terms of people’s rights there is only one class of citizens in Australia. All citizens have the same rights but they also have the same obligations and one of those obligations is obviously to obey the law. That applies whether you were born here or whether you took out your citizenship last week.” |
| Turnbull told reporters leaks were not ideal “but it happens from time to time”. | Turnbull told reporters leaks were not ideal “but it happens from time to time”. |
| The Labor leader, Bill Shorten, said it was “disturbing” for national security-related documents to be “leaked by people within the Turnbull government to embarrass the government”. | The Labor leader, Bill Shorten, said it was “disturbing” for national security-related documents to be “leaked by people within the Turnbull government to embarrass the government”. |
| The Refugee Council of Australia argued the proposals were “self-defeating as they risk creating greater marginalisation and disaffection among new arrivals”. | |
| “Rather than address concerns about the potential for radicalisation within Australia, these proposals would help to create the circumstances where more people who have migrated to Australia feel shut out of wider Australian society,” said the council’s chief executive, Paul Power. | |
| “Migrants and refugees come to Australia seeking stability and the opportunity to build a new and better life for their families. Government policy should actively support this, not leaving new arrivals feeling that they must constantly be viewed with suspicion.” |