ICMCEUROPE WelcometoEurope.pdf (5.89 MB)

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Australia’s Special Humanitarian programme). This decision will increase
Australia’s refugee programme to its highest level in 30 years.
However, this commendable support for resettlement is occurring in a
political environment in which Australia is seriously weakening its commitment
to asylum. The Australian government has resorted to deterrent
policies that punish asylum seekers for arriving by boat to seek asylum.
Some asylum seekers are being sent to Nauru and Manus Island in Papua
New Guinea, denying them the opportunity to lodge protection claims in
Australia.
The decision to apply the ‘no advantage’ test to boat arrivals’ claims being
processed on the Australian mainland lacks decency, and humanity and
further downgrades Australia’s international reputation for human rights.
Under the changes announced by the Minister for Immigration, asylum
seekers who arrived by boat after 13 August 2012, and all future arrivals,
will be forced to wait for an indefinite period before being granted a protection
visa – even after being recognised as refugees. The changes will
see asylum seekers denied the right to work, placed on the lowest level of
financial support and denied access to family reunion. They can also be
sent to Nauru or Manus Island at any time.
RCOA and many other organisations have consistently argued that
Australia must honour its international obligations to asylum seekers. We
advocate working toward safer pathways to protection by engaging with
our neighbours in Asia Pacific to build an effective regional refugee protection
framework.
What do you think will be the operational challenges of the increased
quota?
The increase in the programme has been overwhelmingly endorsed by the
organisations and community members we have consulted. It is important
that the increase in resettlement places is matched with careful planning
and additional resources for settlement services.
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER VI CHAPTER V
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER III