The Department of Immigration figures for the March quarter are in line with a long-term trend showing the majority of people who make dangerous boat journeys towards Australia are people fleeing persecution in need of a protection visa.
Mark Goudkamp from the Refugee Action Coalition says it's a fact that needs to be emphasised.
"It's worth re-stating over and over again because our politicians don't seem to get that, that if you are going to risk your life and do it in this way it's often because you don't have an official channel, migration channel to do it and it's a desperate act by people who are genuinely in fear of persecution, overwhelmingly that's the case."
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