Abbott announces tougher asylum policy

9 Jun 2012, 4:35 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Opposition leader Tony Abbott announces a tougher asylum seeker policy. (Getty)

Opposition leader Tony Abbott announces a tougher asylum seeker policy. (Getty)

Asylum seekers who are believed to have destroyed their documents before arriving in Australia will have a presumption against refugee status under a coalition government, Tony Abbott says.

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Asylum seekers who are believed to have destroyed their documents before arriving in Australia will have a presumption against refugee status under a coalition government, Tony Abbott says.

As part of three policy "enhancements", which the opposition leader said would immediately be put in place under a coalition government, Mr Abbott said there would be a "strong presumption that illegal boat people who have destroyed their documents not be given refugee status".

Mr Abbott said the government would also ensure that his Immigration Minister "exercise the right" to appeal against affirmative decisions.

"This right has never been exercised under this government," he told reporters on Saturday.

The Opposition said there is a concern that asylum seekers are deliberately destroying their idenification papers under the belief it would give them a better chance of having their refugee status approved.

The policy announcement follows claims an alleged people smuggler, known as Captain Emad, posed as a refugee.

This would ensure that "yeses are checked, not just noes", opposition spokesman for immigration Scott Morrison said.

"Under our current system noes are checked under an appeal process by applicants but yeses never get checked."

Under the third proposal put forward by Mr Abbott, an integrity commissioner would report to the minister every six months on what is happening to the processing success rates.

"What is happening now is that 90 per cent of people who arrive illegally via boat are given successful outcomes."

Mr Abbott said other countries had "heavier rates of rejection" and he wanted to know why this was the case.

The "enhancements" would be on top of the party's current immigration policy, which includes the re-establishment of offshore processing at Nauru, the re-introduction of temporary protection visas and the option of turning boats around.

It is not the first time the opposition has flagged a crackdown on asylum seekers entering Australia without proper documentation.

In April 2010, Mr Morrison said having correct documentation should be a "key requirement" for asylum seekers.

OPPN REHASHING POLICY: GOVT

The federal government says the opposition is rehashing old policy by announcing it would reject the refugee applications of people who arrived by boat if it's thought they had deliberately destroyed their documents.

Mr Bowen was quick to point out that opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison stated in late 2011 that it was coalition policy to presume against refugee status "where we reasonably form the view that someone has thrown away their documentation".

Indeed, Mr Morrison made the same point in April 2010, four months before the last federal election.

"They (the opposition) should stop passing off old policies as new ones," Mr Bowen said in a statement.

"Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison should quit the cheap political stunts and join with the government to pass legislation enabling offshore processing."

Labor wants to process asylum seekers arriving by boat in Malaysia but needs the opposition's help to make the plan lawful.

The coalition is refusing to pass the required legislation because it says potential refugees should be assessed on Nauru. It argues legal changes aren't required for that approach.

Mr Bowen on Saturday said the opposition's plans for more reviews would introduce another layer of bureaucracy "which would almost certainly be judicially reviewable, meaning more asylum claims will be tied up in the courts".

The immigration minister said Australia already had a robust process for assessing asylum seeker claims under the UN refugee convention with each claim judged on a case-by-case basis.

ABBOTT'S COMMENTS MISLEADING: REFUGEE ADVOCATE

But Refugee Action Coalition Sydney spokesman Ian Rintoul said the comments were misleading.

"The issue of documentation is not as straight forward as the opposition is making out," he told AAP.

Mr Rintoul said many asylum seekers travelled by fake passports to Indonesia, which they destroyed on arrival in order to prevent any possible criminal proceedings.

Others destroyed valid passports in order to avoid being deported by the Indonesian government, he said.

"They may not have passports but they have other documentation, such as driver's licenses.

"People want to be identified because they can't be processed in Australia unless they are identified."

"It (the announcement) is all about the coalition painting a picture that a lot of people are trying to take advantage of Australia.

"There is no indication that this is the case.

"It is not easy to get refugee status in Australia."

He also rejected moves to review approvals of refugees and the establishment of a new integrity commissioner to audit all refugee decisions.

"This would just create another layer of unnecessary bureaucracy," he said.

 

Asylum Seekers , Tony Abbott , Scott Morrison

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Your Comments

Easy and simple solution is obvious.

Trent. - from Blue Mts, 1 year

If government had the guts to turn ALL the boats around upon detection in Australian waters, there would be no problem and none of this disscusion nor detention centres would be needed. All those arriving by air should not even set foot on our soil but be sent back on the same plane.

Process in Australian Territory - Heard Island

Brian - from NSW, 1 year

I am sick and tired of the inability of labor the Greens and their independent lackeys to control our borders, Don't blame the coalition - the Greens and Independents hold the balance of power in both houses and caused the problem.. So how about we admit that labor is unable to manage border protection and forget abourt offshore processing. Do it all in Australian Territory. To put this in context, the last time I looked Heard Island was Australian Territory.

mr

cog - from wa, 1 year

We really need an Election..The Sooner the Better. It is dreadful that 2 Years have been wasted...Money has been wasted while our Country sinks under Weak Policies.. They don't seem to Care about their own Country...Can't Understand lack of comprehension.

FEAR

Mark - from moonta, 1 year

More fear mongering from the extreme right wing liberal leader.Abbott knows fear wins votes howard was the master with things like they throw there children overboard.Abbotts fear list 1 the carbon tax will destroy coal mining. 2 our borders are insecure. 3 the mining industry tax will send mining overseas.INDONESIA have allready stated they will not except boats being turned back and the australian NAVY has said it would put lives at risk.Abbott is a DANGER to society and should resign.

Yes

Cat - from Adelaide, 1 year

Most refugees will do all they can to retain their identity documents - most hope to go "home" one day. This is a good move - bet the govt slams it!

abbott

lachlanGc - from varsity, 1 year

Why can't the liberals ever present a policy, that is not just a reaction to current events. I say new leaders all round

Cynical Play for Votes

Jono - from Melbourne, 1 year

There are often legitimate reasons why asylum-seekers destroy their documents. They might be justifiably afraid of all authorities from experiences at home and lack a comprehensive understanding of the rule of law which *should* mean they have nothing to fear from honesty here. Ironic in light of the Coalition policy. Asylum-seekers often have false documents and fear punishment. Sometimes they are told by unscrupulous people-smugglers that they will be sent back if they have any documents.

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