Australian High Commission
Colombo
MEDIA RELEASE
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19 April 2010
Australia gets tough on people smugglers and halts processing of claims by some Asylum Seekers
The Australian Government today announced an immediate suspension of any new asylum claims from Sri Lankans or Afghans.
As a result of the announcement asylum seekers from these countries will not have their asylum claims assessed for three months (Sri Lanka) or six months (Afghanistan). The suspension will be reviewed at the end of these periods.
The Australian government is also taking additional steps to crack down on people smugglers and those who finance them.
This suspension has been made as a result of the evolving circumstances in Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.
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 Lankan and Afghanistan will be refused.
Australia recognises the progress Sri Lanka has made in tackling the task of resettling hundreds of thousands of displaced citizens and rehabilitating their communities. There is real opportunity for further stabilisation of the situation so that all Sri Lankans can feel they have a future in the country.
This change in policy, combined with the work of Sri Lankan authorities to stamp out people smuggling, sends a clear message: people using a people smuggler should not risk their lives and their money.
The changes also apply to Afghan nationals seeking asylum in Australia, many of who transit through countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia on their way to Australia.
In a related move, Australia will strengthen its anti-people smuggling laws by making it an offence for anyone to provide funds or other support that facilitates the crime of people smuggling in Australia.
Australia is determined to send a strong message that, by working closely with partner countries in the region, people smugglers will be caught and they will go to jail. New offences to stop people smuggling with penalties up to twenty years have been introduced to the Australian Parliament.