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6 April 2006

FLAWS IN REFUGEE POLICY AGAIN HIGHLIGHTED 


Whilst the decision of the Australian Government to grant temporary protection to the 42 West Papuan refugees has been applauded by refugee support groups, flaws in the current policy towards refugees and asylum seekers have again been exposed.

In congratulating the government on its decision, made in the face of pressure from the Indonesian government and from sections of the Australian government anxious not to offend Indonesia, a spokesman for the Refugee Council of Australia repeated the Council’s opposition to the system of temporary protection visas which restricts access to government sponsored resettlement services and requires proof of refugee claims again after three years

Voicing similar sentiments, the Director of the Jesuit Refugee Service Fr David Holdcroft drew attention to the very differing welcomes given to refugees accepted through the UN compared with those fleeing persecution and who arrive without authorization. He also pointed out that refugees released from detention are billed for their own incarceration and the account must be settled in full before they can hope to leave Australia and return, or become Australian citizens.

Many remain convinced that the underlying attitude towards refugees within the government and the immigration departments is one of hostility. The latest revelation of the unlawful detention of yet another Australian citizen (with the indication that many more similar cases are yet to be publicized) is evidence of this, as is the recent Senate enquiry which according to A Just Australia reveals that Australia’s refugee policy "is not designed to find out who are 'genuine' refugees, but is designed to find as few refugees as possible"


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