'No advantage' for boat people - Australian Govt

by Manjula Fernando

A top Australian delegation now in Sri Lanka for discussions with the Government agencies to combat human smuggling, on Thursday warned that illegal immigrants who turn up on their shores demanding jobs will be disappointed as they will be promptly returned home.

Australia and Sri Lanka are in the process of finalising a returns agreement, Head of Delegation, Deputy Secretary, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Peter Vardos said. According to the delegation, Sri Lankans account for nearly 40 percent of the unlawful migrants. Altogether some 15,000 are currently detained in Australia.Deputy Secretary Vardos said Australia's migration program is calibrated to address the specific skill needs that Australia needs for its economic and social prosperity.

"We know what we want in our skilled migration program. We do not need semi or unskilled people, we do not need people who unilaterally show up on our shores and say give me a job. I can appreciate why people seek better life for themselves. But it's a risky journey and people die".

The delegation held a press conference in the midst of their discussions with local officials and field visits to the locations where most Lankan boats bound for Australia take to sea. The team was to travel to Trincomalee, on Friday where the Sri Lankan Navy intercept fishing boats with unlawful migrants frequently.

He said his country has one of the largest migration programs in the world and Sri Lanka features in the top ten source countries for Australia in skilled migration, visitor visa and for students.

"I feel a degree of humanity and compassion for the people who take these risks but there is nothing worse than the visuals I saw on television of corpses including that of small children floating in the sea when their boats smashed against the rocks of Christmas Island".

Appreciating the role played by the Sri Lanka Navy, Rear Admiral David Johnston of the Border Protection Command, said, "I understand the challenges the Sri Lankan Navy has as an island nation.

Australia has so far repatriated more than 570 Sri Lankans (by November 22) since August 13. The latest group of 100 were sent back on Wednesday on board a Royal Australian Airforce KC-30 aircraft.

The people arriving by boat will have the 'no advantage' principle applied, which means being transferred to offshore processing centres, remain in detention or may be placed in the community on 'bridging visas' which will give them no 'work right', based on their claims.

However, those who do not have a legitimate claim, that engage Australia's international obligations will be returned on arrival.