Australia defends hardline immigration policy as keeping out 'undesirables'
Australia has seen the rise of anti-immigration politics with far-right wing parties garnering strong public support
Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (L) and Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Peter Dutton speak on Australia's citizenship test during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, April 20, 2017. PHOTO: REUTERS
Australia said on Sunday it is stopping 'undesirables' such as terrorists, paedophiles, organised criminals and drug smugglers from boarding flights to the country, defending its hardline immigration policy that has drawn criticism from rights groups.
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Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said that Australian Border Force Airline Liaison Officers were operating in major transit airports to push those threats "beyond our borders”. Where other countries “allow people to arrive and then assess the threat then”, the “Australian model” was to bar those considered a threat.
“(Liaison officers) try to identify the threats - particularly given that we've got foreign fighters coming back through Southeast Asia and all over - the idea is to stop them getting on planes,” the minister told the Nine Network. According to media, immigration officials prevented 1,043 passengers from boarding flights to Australia since 2013.
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Australia has seen the rise of nationalist, anti-immigration politics with far-right wing parties such as One Nation garnering strong public support, while the popularity of the ruling centre-right government has been languishing. Under its policy on asylum seekers arriving by boat, Australia turns back unauthorised vessels at sea to their port
of origin when it can and sends those it cannot to controversial camps in the South Pacific for long-term detention.
Earlier this year, the government announced it would raise the bar for handing out citizenships by lengthening the waiting period, adding a new “Australian values” test and raising the standard for English language as part of a shake up of its immigration programme.
Australia declares game-up for 'fake refugees'
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said that Australian Border Force Airline Liaison Officers were operating in major transit airports to push those threats "beyond our borders”. Where other countries “allow people to arrive and then assess the threat then”, the “Australian model” was to bar those considered a threat.
“(Liaison officers) try to identify the threats - particularly given that we've got foreign fighters coming back through Southeast Asia and all over - the idea is to stop them getting on planes,” the minister told the Nine Network. According to media, immigration officials prevented 1,043 passengers from boarding flights to Australia since 2013.
Asylum-seekers in Australia win multimillion dollar payout
Australia has seen the rise of nationalist, anti-immigration politics with far-right wing parties such as One Nation garnering strong public support, while the popularity of the ruling centre-right government has been languishing. Under its policy on asylum seekers arriving by boat, Australia turns back unauthorised vessels at sea to their port
of origin when it can and sends those it cannot to controversial camps in the South Pacific for long-term detention.
Earlier this year, the government announced it would raise the bar for handing out citizenships by lengthening the waiting period, adding a new “Australian values” test and raising the standard for English language as part of a shake up of its immigration programme.