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| Bob Carr's comments foreshadow Labor asylum seeker clampdown | Bob Carr's comments foreshadow Labor asylum seeker clampdown |
| (3 months later) | |
| The Rudd government is strongly suggesting the Australian refugee processing system should not be approving the refugee claims of many asylum seekers arriving by boat and is preparing information to try to persuade the tribunals to reject more applications. | The Rudd government is strongly suggesting the Australian refugee processing system should not be approving the refugee claims of many asylum seekers arriving by boat and is preparing information to try to persuade the tribunals to reject more applications. |
| More than 90% of asylum seekers arriving by boat are found to be genuine refugees, but foreign minister Bob Carr has said he believes most are in fact economic migrants and on some boats 100% of the asylum seekers are in fact economic migrants and not genuine refugees. | More than 90% of asylum seekers arriving by boat are found to be genuine refugees, but foreign minister Bob Carr has said he believes most are in fact economic migrants and on some boats 100% of the asylum seekers are in fact economic migrants and not genuine refugees. |
| In a clear signal the Rudd government is preparing for a crackdown on people smugglers ahead of the federal election, Carr said his department was preparing "up to date" information for the immigration tribunals about the political situation in the countries from which refugee applicants come, so they did not approve those who had no genuine fear of persecution. | In a clear signal the Rudd government is preparing for a crackdown on people smugglers ahead of the federal election, Carr said his department was preparing "up to date" information for the immigration tribunals about the political situation in the countries from which refugee applicants come, so they did not approve those who had no genuine fear of persecution. |
| Carr, who is in Jakarta for bilateral meetings ahead of next week's scheduled meeting between the leaders of Australia and Indonesia, said the refugee determinations remained a matter for the Australian courts and tribunals, but the message he is sending is clear. | Carr, who is in Jakarta for bilateral meetings ahead of next week's scheduled meeting between the leaders of Australia and Indonesia, said the refugee determinations remained a matter for the Australian courts and tribunals, but the message he is sending is clear. |
| And it came as the new prime minister Kevin Rudd also said he was worried that the constant arrival of asylum seekers by boat would see "the fragmentation of support" for Australia's migration system. | And it came as the new prime minister Kevin Rudd also said he was worried that the constant arrival of asylum seekers by boat would see "the fragmentation of support" for Australia's migration system. |
| "Look, let's just face some facts here, a whole bunch of people who come to this country are economic migrants … some are genuine refugees … but you would have to be deluding yourself if you thought there weren't a bunch of people seeking to come to this country for economic reasons." | "Look, let's just face some facts here, a whole bunch of people who come to this country are economic migrants … some are genuine refugees … but you would have to be deluding yourself if you thought there weren't a bunch of people seeking to come to this country for economic reasons." |
| Former prime minister Julia Gillard's cabinet had also considered what one source called a "smorgasboard" of options to try to slow the arrivals of asylum seeker boats, which Labor backbenchers have said are "killing" Labor politically. The government has commissioned a review of the processing system in a bid to lower the acceptance rate. | Former prime minister Julia Gillard's cabinet had also considered what one source called a "smorgasboard" of options to try to slow the arrivals of asylum seeker boats, which Labor backbenchers have said are "killing" Labor politically. The government has commissioned a review of the processing system in a bid to lower the acceptance rate. |
| Rudd spoke to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday night, who he is expected to meet in Indonesia next week. | Rudd spoke to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday night, who he is expected to meet in Indonesia next week. |
| Labor introduced a controversial "no advantage test" on 13 August last year in an unsuccessful attempt to stop asylum boats from coming by insisting that those applying for refugee status in that way received no benefit compared with those who stayed in refugee camps in the region. | Labor introduced a controversial "no advantage test" on 13 August last year in an unsuccessful attempt to stop asylum boats from coming by insisting that those applying for refugee status in that way received no benefit compared with those who stayed in refugee camps in the region. |
| The test has meant that there has been virtually no processing of the claims made by the more than 20,000 refugees who have arrived since that time, no information about how long processing could take, and that those who have been released into the community are not allowed to work and receive just 89% of unemployment benefits. | The test has meant that there has been virtually no processing of the claims made by the more than 20,000 refugees who have arrived since that time, no information about how long processing could take, and that those who have been released into the community are not allowed to work and receive just 89% of unemployment benefits. |
| It has been criticised by groups including the Red Cross for leaving asylum seekers in an unacceptable state of vulnerability, distress and poverty. | It has been criticised by groups including the Red Cross for leaving asylum seekers in an unacceptable state of vulnerability, distress and poverty. |
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