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Australia announces Papua New Guinea asylum deal | Australia announces Papua New Guinea asylum deal |
(35 minutes later) | |
People arriving by boat to seek asylum will no longer be resettled in Australia but will go to Papua New Guinea, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced. | People arriving by boat to seek asylum will no longer be resettled in Australia but will go to Papua New Guinea, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced. |
The news came as Mr Rudd set out an overhaul of asylum policy ahead of a general election expected shortly. | The news came as Mr Rudd set out an overhaul of asylum policy ahead of a general election expected shortly. |
Australia has seen a sharp rise in the number of asylum-seekers arriving by boat in recent months. | Australia has seen a sharp rise in the number of asylum-seekers arriving by boat in recent months. |
Mr Rudd said the "hard-line decision" was taken to ensure border security. | Mr Rudd said the "hard-line decision" was taken to ensure border security. |
It was also aimed at dissuading people from making the dangerous journey to Australia by boat. | |
"Our country has had enough of people-smugglers exploiting asylum-seekers and seeing them drown on the high seas," he said. | |
'No chance' | |
The prime minister, who ousted Julia Gillard as Labor Party leader amid dismal polling figures last month, made the announcement in Brisbane flanked by the PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. | The prime minister, who ousted Julia Gillard as Labor Party leader amid dismal polling figures last month, made the announcement in Brisbane flanked by the PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. |
"From now on, any asylum-seeker who arrives in Australia by boat will have no chance of being settled in Australia as a refugee," Mr Rudd said. | "From now on, any asylum-seeker who arrives in Australia by boat will have no chance of being settled in Australia as a refugee," Mr Rudd said. |
Under the agreement, new arrivals will be sent to PNG for assessment and settled there if found to be a refugee. | Under the agreement, new arrivals will be sent to PNG for assessment and settled there if found to be a refugee. |
To accommodate the new arrivals, an offshore processing centre in PNG's Manus island will be significantly expanded to hold up to 3,000 people. | |
No cap has been placed on the number of people Australia can send to PNG, Mr Rudd said. | No cap has been placed on the number of people Australia can send to PNG, Mr Rudd said. |
"The new arrangements will allow Australia to help more people who are genuinely in need and help prevent people smugglers from abusing our system." | |
The rules would apply to all those arriving in Australia by boat from today, Immigration Minister Tony Burke said. | |
In return, Australia is to channel aid to PNG, including to a major regional hospital and the university sector. | |
Boat arrivals have soared in the past 18 months, with most asylum seekers coming from Iraq, Iran, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. | |
They make their way to Indonesia and from there head to Christmas Island, the closest part of Australian territory to Java. | |
They travel in boats that are often over-crowded and poorly-maintained. Several have sunk in recent months, killing passengers. | |
Last year, the Australian government reintroduced a controversial policy under which people arriving by boat in Australia are sent to camps in Nauru and Papua New Guinea for processing. | |
But the policy - which has been strongly criticised for the conditions which asylum-seekers face at the camps - has so far failed to deter boat people, who are arriving in increasing numbers. | |
Asylum has become a key election issue in Australia and polls must be called before the end of November. |