Australia suspends Sri Lankan asylum claims
April 9, 2010 08:33 am
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s government, due to hold an election later in 2010, is under increasing pressure to stem the arrival of boatpeople, predominately Sri Lankan and Afghan, on the country’s remote northwest.
Rudd has been accused of being soft on border protection after dismantling the previous government’s policy of mandatory detention.
More than 1,600 boatpeople arrived off
“We have taken a consistently hard-line approach to people smuggling and
today’s announcements will further strengthen the integrity of
Evans said the suspensions were due to improved circumstances in
“Today’s announcements make it clear to all that the changed circumstances in both these countries will make it more likely that visa applications will be refused,” he said.
Evans said he did not expect the suspensions would immediately stem the number of boat arrivals.
“We still expect boats to arrive,” he said, adding the government was
hopeful that “over time” it would have an impact on people smuggling operations.
Reuters