Australia to take more refugees this year

26 Oct 2012, 1:42 pm   -   Source: AAP

An extra 6250 refugees will be resettled in Australia this year from "priority regions" in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, the government says.

Australia will accept an extra 6,250 refugees in 2012/13 from source and transit countries, as part of the government's plan to discourage irregular boat arrivals.

The Gillard government announced in August it would increase Australia's annual humanitarian intake from 13,750 to 20,000, and to 27,000 within five years.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen says the extra resettlements will come from priority regions in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

"The increase in places target those in most need, including those vulnerable people in camps around the world," he said in a statement on Friday.

"We are providing more opportunities for vulnerable and displaced people to pursue safer resettlement options in Australia as part of an orderly humanitarian program."

This would reinforce the government's "no-advantage" policy by showing that no special treatment would be given to those arriving by boat.

Mr Bowen, who has been visiting refugee shelters and camps in Lebanon this week, said the decision will change the lives of people languishing in camps and other places around the world.

"As I witnessed in Lebanon, countries in the region bear a significant burden, generously providing protection space to refugees," he said.

With the humanitarian program increased by more than 40 per cent, Australia is now the second largest resettlement country in the world behind the US, Mr Bowen said.

The increase in resettlements will include up to 2000 African refugees, 3800 Iraqis from Syria, Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon, and 2000 Afghans from countries in the region.

The opposition says the government is expanding the humanitarian program to give more permanent visas for people arriving by boat.

"The increase in refugee visas under Labor will be so people coming on boats, not those waiting in dire need across the world who come through the front door, are still given permanent visas," immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said in a statement.

The people smugglers' product was still firmly on the table, he said.

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