Persecuting the persecuted - the Department of Immigration's Annual Report

29 October 2003

Australia's hardline immigration policy was exposed as grossly unfair and based on a myth, human rights group A Just Australia said today in response to the release of the Department of Immigration's Annual Report.

The figures show that over 90% of those demonised by the government as 'queue jumpers' and detained in harsh detention centres were eventually recognised as refugees.

"Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent to manufacture a refugee crisis, and to damage people's lives," said A Just Australia National Director Howard Glenn.

"These refugees have been locked up in the desert, some for years, separated from their family, denied security, not helped to learn English or get jobs."

"The persecution continues with temporary protection denying them any security in their lives."

Tabled in Federal Parliament yesterday, the report shows that in the period July 1999 - July 2002, 9160 "unauthorised boat arrivals" applied for asylum, with 8260 of these successful in their claims.

"Children, pregnant women, the elderly and the ill have all been detained in order to stop the boats coming. The sad irony is that it didn't work - detention never stopped boats arriving, the navy did," Mr Glenn said.

At least 187 children remain in detention. There are over 300 people still detained in Nauru and 8500 Temporary Visa Holders fearing return to Afghanistan and Iraq.

A Just Australia is urging the Federal Government to:

• provide permanent protection for proven refugees, with assistance to return home on a voluntary basis;
• introduce a process for humanitarian visas or solutions for those stuck in the limbo of long term detention; and
• immediately release children and their families into community-based programs.