Australia cracks down on asylum seekers
- 11 years ago
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd signing a refugee agreement with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.
The Pacific island state has agreed to host a processing centre for asylum seekers on Manus Island.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER, KEVIN RUDD, SAYING:
"From now on, any asylum seeker who arrives in Australia by boat will have no chance of being settled in Australia as refugees. Asylum seekers taken to Christmas Island will be sent to Manus and elsewhere in Papua New Guinea for assessment of their refugee status. If they are found to be genuine refugees they will be resettled in Papua New Guinea."
More than 15,000 asylum seekers have arrived by boat in Australian territory this year prompting opposition accusations that the ruling Labor government is soft on border protection.
Australian elections are due to be called within weeks and Rudd needs to take tough action on asylum seekers to have a chance of winning in key seats, where
The Pacific island state has agreed to host a processing centre for asylum seekers on Manus Island.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER, KEVIN RUDD, SAYING:
"From now on, any asylum seeker who arrives in Australia by boat will have no chance of being settled in Australia as refugees. Asylum seekers taken to Christmas Island will be sent to Manus and elsewhere in Papua New Guinea for assessment of their refugee status. If they are found to be genuine refugees they will be resettled in Papua New Guinea."
More than 15,000 asylum seekers have arrived by boat in Australian territory this year prompting opposition accusations that the ruling Labor government is soft on border protection.
Australian elections are due to be called within weeks and Rudd needs to take tough action on asylum seekers to have a chance of winning in key seats, where