Australia gets tough with asylum seekers

The new Australian Government has warned that bogus asylum seekers would be deported according to reports from Australia.

Sri Lankan Tamils who attempted to enter Australia by illegal means are being held at the Tamjung Pinang detention centre in Indonesia months after their boat was seized by the Indonesian authorities.

The Australian Government of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd took a tough stance against asylum seekers and according to the Australian Immigration Department 1,050 people were adversely affected by the visa freez on Afghan and Sri Lankan asylum seekers.

Of the 1,050 asylum seekers 866 were Afghans and 184 were Sri Lankans.

Earlier, the new Australian Prime Minister Ms. Julia Gillard called upon the East Timor and New Zealand to help in setting up Centres for asylum seekers. However, there was a negative response from both countries, informed sources said.

The Australian Prime Minister has also unveiled plans to curb illegal immigration, while considering the appeals by genuine asylum seekers, the sources said.

Under the new coalition policy an asylum seeker who deliberately destroys his or her identity documents is not a refugee. It also makes it tougher for asylum seekers who arrive by boat to be resettled in Australia the sources said.

-AP