Australia fair to asylum seekers: UN

16 Oct 2009, 12:11 pm   -   Source: AAP/SBS
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Australia shouldn't apologise for being renowned as a country that offers fair protection to those seeking asylum from their own countries, the UN says.

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Australia shouldn't apologise for being renowned as a country that offers fair protection to those seeking asylum from their own countries, the regional head of the UN's refugee agency said.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees stands ready to assist a boat carrying more than 250 Sri Lankan asylum-seekers, once the Indonesian Government can identify their profiles.

If asked, the UN will help to resettle those that are found to be refugees, including asking Australia if it can take some of them, UNHCR's regional representative Richard Towle said.

But he says the main factor remains people trying to flee conflict zones.

"Overall this year, we've had something like 32 boats and about 1,700 people who've come to Christmas Island for processing," he said.

It is understood that Australia is a place where refugees can get fair and effective refugee protection, he says.

"But I think we need to be careful about apologising for that.

If Australia is renowned as a country that does the right thing, that offers fair and effective protection for those who need it and requires those that don't need it to leave the territory then I don't think the apology is needed."

Mr Towle labelled as "pretty simplistic" the opposition's view that asylum seekers shouldn't be rewarded by being allowed to come to Australia.

"I don't think people being taken from those places in very difficult circumstances are being rewarded at all."

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