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AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION
OTTAWA

MEDIA RELEASE

9 April 2010

Australia changes policy on asylum seekers

16 April 2010

The Australian Government has announced changes to its asylum seeker policies that will make it more difficult for Sri Lankan and Afghan nationals to seek asylum in Australia.

What is the change?

• The Australian Government has suspended refugee status assessment and decision-making for asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka who are intercepted by Australian authorities or arrive in Australia from 9 April 2010.
• Those who arrive prior to this date will not be subject to the suspension.
• Asylum seekers who are intercepted by Australian authorities from 9 April 2010 will be taken to Christmas Island but will not have their asylum claims processed. They will remain in detention during the suspension.
• The suspension will last three months for Sri Lankans and six months for Afghans. At the end of these periods, the suspension will be reviewed.
• This suspension has been made as a result of the evolving circumstances in these two countries.
• The Australian Government expects that the combined effect of this suspension and the changing circumstances in these two countries will mean that it is likely that, in the future, more asylum claims from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan will be refused.

Who will be affected?

• The suspension of processing will apply to all Sri Lankans and Afghans who, on or after 9 April 2010:
1. are intercepted by Australian maritime authorities; or
2. arrive, by air or sea, directly in Australia (including Christmas Island and other excised offshore places).

Why have these changes been made?

• The suspension has been made as a result of the evolving circumstances in these two countries.
• The combined effect of this suspension and the changing circumstances in these two countries will mean that it is likely that, in the future, more asylum claims from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan will be refused.
• The Australian government believes that asylum seekers should only be granted the right to live in Australia if they are genuinely in need of protection.
• These measures will ensure that Australia’s refugee processing system continues to recognise those genuinely in need of protection.

You can read a joint ministerial press release on this announcement here.