No change in asylum policy- Rudd

In spite of permission from Immigration Minister Chris Evans for ten detained Afghan youths to enter the country without having visas, Kevin Rudd insists that no changes have been introduced to Australian policy of processing asylum-seekers offshore.

In spite of permission from Immigration Minister Chris Evans for ten detained Afghan youths to enter the country without having visas, Kevin Rudd insists that no changes have been introduced to Australian policy of processing asylum-seekers offshore.

Senator Evans said that the decision to bring the boys to the detention in Melbourne from that in Christmas Island was taken because of the fact that better care of them could be taken in Melbourne and processing of their application can be completed in lesser time, and therefore, better support would be provided to them.

The decision was recommended from the department of Senator Evans and it was much-admired by refugee advocates and seen as an important shift from the eight-year-old policy of offshore processing of applications of all asylum seekers, irrespective of what their circumstances are.

Senator Evans said that the decision was taken based on the advice regarding concerns about the helplessness of the boys.

Senator Evan’s Department yesterday pointed out that sixty one times in the past under the Howard government, asylum seekers were allowed to come to Australian mainland from detention facilities on Nauru or Manus Islands. On a number of occasions, the department pointed, even the family members of an ill or pregnant person were allowed to get in.

A spokesperson of the Immigration Department said that the Afghan youths weren’t provided housing at a residential facility as this move could add some complexities to these boys’ managements. He added that these were just temporary accommodation arrangements until their refugee status was finalized.