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| Prime
Minister Kevin Rudd |
Australian Prime
Minister Kevin Rudd is preparing to adapt the Sri Lankan model to discourage
illegal immigrants as the number of such immigrants to Australia is on the
increase. An Australian newspaper reported that the initiatives taken by Sri
Lanka to prevent its people migrating through illegal means have worked well.
Australia’s decision to send the illegal immigrants back to Sri Lanka has also
contributed towards the substantial decline of illegal immigrants.
Iranians become the main group of asylum
seeker arrivals and the large numbers of Sri Lankans seen last year has
significantly reduced this year. However, Iran does not welcome back its fleeing citizens. At the same time,
Kevin Rudd’s government will also continue to send all illegal immigrants
directly to the Pacific Islands.
The Prime
Minister announced that no more boat-people will be resettled in Australia as
refugees, with all unauthorised arrivals to be sent to poverty-stricken Papua
New Guinea. From now on, any asylum-seeker who arrives in Australia by boat will
have no chance of being settled in Australia as a refugee, said Rudd, unveiling
his new hardline border protection policy.
Meanwhile, the Australian Emigration
Authorities said that there is a significant decrease in the number of illegal
immigrants arriving in the Australian shores from Sri Lanka although there is
an increase from some other countries. The number of Sri Lankans attempted to
enter Australia last year amounted to 6428 people. The Australian authorities
said that increased sea patrols by Sri Lankans authorities, as well as
Australia's policy to return Sri Lankans who arrive by boat, have made a
significant impact on the illegal arrivals. Kevin Rudd government has praised Sri Lanka for its successful
initiatives to control economic refugees migrating illegally to Australia.
