If you come to Australia by boat without a visa, you won’t be settled in Australia
The first group of 40 people arrived in Manus Island, Papua New Guinea on August 1. Refugee claims from the single adult men, who were transferred from Christmas Island, will be assessed under Papua New Guinea law. If found to be refugees, the men will be settled in Papua New Guinea.
This demonstrates that if you come to Australia by boat without a visa, you will not be settled in Australia. Transfers to the Manus Island Regional Processing Centre will continue regularly.
The new Regional Settlement Arrangement signed between Australia and PNG is aimed at stopping asylum seekers arriving in Australia by boat and combatting people smuggling.
The new policy applies immediately and to everyone of whatever nationality, including Vietnamese. It also applies to children and pregnant women: exempting them from the agreement would simply encourage people smugglers to put them on boats to Australia, at great risk to their safety. Appropriate arrangements will be available for children and families in PNG.
“We are a compassionate nation and we will continue to deliver a strong humanitarian program,” said Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Attorney General Mark Dreyfus and Australian Minister for Immigration, Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Tony Burke in a joint press release on 19 July. But “access to our humanitarian program must be through the international organisations which resettle people around the world, not through criminal operators who have pushed people onto unseaworthy vessels with tragic consequences”.
“The new arrangements will allow Australia to help more people who are genuinely in need and help prevent people smugglers from abusing our system”.
Footage showing the first transfer to Manus Island under the Regional Settlement Arrangement can be seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/australianembassyvietnam/9420773090/
For further information on the new policy in both English and Vietnamese, please go to: http://www.immi.gov.au/visas/humanitarian/novisa/ and video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jysl0m2ZB70