Impunity Watch: Oceania

Asylum Center Expansion Is Evidence of Policy Failure

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

CANBERRA, Australia – The Australian government will increase the capacity of a Christmas Island detention facility as a result of the increase in the number of individuals seeking asylum.

As a result of the government’s plans, the detention center, which will cost approximately $40 million, will be able to hold more than 2000 individuals.

The government believes that it is necessary to increase the number of beds by approximately 50%.

It will continue to expand the center as space is needed and remains committed to a policy of mandatory detention for all unauthorized boat arrivals.

Christmas Island officials claim that careful planning of the expansion will be necessary to ensure human treatment and avoid overcrowding. 

While the government claims these plans are an effort to cope with the influx of asylum seekers over the last few months, opposition officials have a different view. 

They claim this is evidence of the administration’s failing immigration policies.  Expanding the capacity of detention facilities is not the answer, they claim, but rather the government must strengthen Australia’s immigration laws.

“[The Prime Minister’s] policy was a failure, it’s in chaos and it’s a shambles,” opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull stated.

Over the last several months, these policies have sparked bitter debate.  Prime Minister Kevin Rudd claims that the influx is the result of the current situations in countries such as Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.  The opposition, however, claims that the Rudd’s relaxation of the severe immigration policies inherited from his predecessor is at the root of the problem.

Rather than applying to the UN Refugee Agency, many asylum seekers will travel to Australia illegally by boat, which is encouraged by the administration’s lax policies. 

This debate rages onward as seventy-eight Sri Lankan asylum seekers remain aboard a ship in waters just off one of the Indonesian islands. 

Neither the government nor the asylum seekers are budging on their positions.

The asylum seekers indicated that they were being treated well but refused to disembark unless the ship went to Australia.

Indonesia will allow the ship to remain there for another week.

For more information, please see:

ABC News – Detention centre expansion ‘proves policy failure’ – 31 October 2009

ABC News – Detention centre expansion confirmed – 31 October 2009

The Age – Christmas Is detention centre to expand – 31 October 2009

BBC News – Australia to expand asylum centre – 31 October 2009

Pitcairn Considers New Draft of Constitution

By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

ADAMSTOWN, Pitcairn - The Governor of Pitcairn, George Ferguson, announced that the island is considering a new draft of the constitution because there is a need for human rights to be "spelled out." The current constitution was enacted in 1970. Since then, there has been a need for a document to include provisions regarding human rights. The new constitution would replace the 1970 constitution.

In June 2009, Britain called for the democratic reform of Pitcairn. The reform of Pitcairn was to bring the island in accordance with European standards of governance and human rights.

New management structures were implemented, such as the election of the mayor as the leading governmental authority on the island, and giving the mayor a council, which is divided into four managers. By updating the judicial structure of Pitcairn, Britain hoped this would give the citizens more rights that are guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights. 

However, not everyone on the island agrees with the new structures. Some of the islanders voiced their dismay at the changes to the island's governance.

In a commentary to the changes in Pitcairn's governance, the director of the Pitcairn Islands Study Centre in California, claimed that "Britain wanted to give the impression it was giving its overseas territories greater freedom in deciding their own future, when it was not."

He further stated: "They have too little freedom to live their lives according to the best interest of the island itself. Everything is looked at through the eyes of a Britisher who has been appointed from London, sits 4000 miles away from them and really doesn't understand all the problems on this island."

In response to the opposition of the reform, Ferguson now hopes to draft a constitution that will include a state of rights based on the European Union Convention on Human Rights. He also hopes to create a post of the Attorney General and to define the Governor's role.

But the main focus of the new draft would be the "explicit setting out of people's rights." Ferguson hopes that the new constitution will serve as a document that "spells out" human rights.

In explaining why the new draft is needed, Ferguson stated: "We have recently done legislation very much with the principles of the Convention of Human Rights in mind, and we are pretty confident that we are broadly compatible with it. But it seems right to make the powers explicit, enable people to have the power to challenge legislation or administrative things in terms of those rights - make it an explicit power, rather than just self discipline on the part of the Government..."

For more information, please see:
Islands Business - New Pitcairn constitution to spell out human rights - 28 October, 2009

Pacific Islands News Association - New Pitcairn constitution to spell out human rights - 28 October, 2009

Radio New Zealand International - New Pitcairn constitution to spell out human rights - 27 October, 2009

Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Radio Australia - Big changes in Pitcairn government - 19 June, 2009

The New Zealand Herald - Democracy reform for Pitcairn - 18 June, 2009

UN To Examine Australia's Policies Amid Asylum Impasse

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

CANBERRA, Australia – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to health is expected to review Australia’s immigration policies amid increasing international scrutiny.

Anand Grover will inspect detention facilities in Villawood and Brisbane, but not those at Christmas Island, when he visits Australia next month and will report back to the UN Human Rights Council and the General Assembly.

Grover’s visit does not necessarily signify the existence of “shocking human rights violations”, according to a representative of an Australian human rights group, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre. 

International concerns about Australia’s procedures for intercepting boats and processing asylum seekers has also prompted Human Rights Watch, an international organization, to take a closer look at Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s policies.  This will be the first time since Rudd’s election in 2007 that the organization has decide to undertake an independent assessment of the Government’s policies.

In the past, Human Rights Watch was known to be highly critical of the Howard government’s policies concerning asylum seekers and temporary protection visas and issued “scathing criticisms” thereof.

Human Rights Watch is not the only group to express its concern with the Rudd administration’s treatment of asylum seekers. Several human rights lawyers and groups, including Amnesty International’s local branch, disapprove of processing these individuals in Indonesia as it has not yet ratified the UN Convention on Refugees.

The UN’s visit comes as the Government is attempting to win a $13 million bid for a seat on the Security Council.  Australia is currently working to improve its diplomatic relations and reputation through various policy initiatives, including increased foreign aid, ratifying various international treaties and becoming more involved in regional issues.

Those in opposition to Prime Minister Rudd’s policies claim that he is “damaging Australia’s reputation”.

On October 26th the Australian Human Rights Commission issued a report, which outlines the Government’s policy on immigration detention and processing at Christmas Island. 

The Rudd Government affirms its commitment to a policy of mandatory detention for all “irregular maritime arrivals” while processing claims and subjecting these individuals to health, security and identity checks.

Further, it maintains that the facility on Christmas Island is used to detain single men only.  The Government promises that these detention facilities never house children.

The report also claims that it is “only right that [Australia] should treat people who seek [its] protection humanely… and meet our international obligations under the UN Refugee Convention.”

Australia’s policy has come under increasing scrutiny as officials attempt to decide how to resolve the situation of seventy-eight stranded Sri Lankan asylum seekers.

An Australian vessel picked up the asylum seekers on October 18th.  An agreement between Indonesia and Australia would allow them to disembark at an Indonesian port for processing at a detention facility just northwest of Jakarta. 

Australia’s Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, stated that the governments of both Australia and Indonesia have agreed that individuals rescued in open waters will go to Indonesia, and the UN High Commission for Refugees in Indonesia will process them. 

The refugees, however, refuse to leave the boat because they want to go to Australia.  Ultimately they do not have a choice in the place where they claim asylum. 

Prime Minister Rudd claims the Government is prepared to use force to remove them from the boat.  According to Indonesia, however, forcible removal is a breach of international law.

Despite mounting pressure, the Government has yet to resolve the fate of the Sri Lankan asylum seekers.

For more information, please see:
ABC News – Heat to end asylum seeker impasse – 29 October 2009

Bloomberg – Rudd May Use Force to Remove Sri Lankans from Ship, SMH Reports – 29 October 2009

Wall Street Journal – Surge in Refugees Presents a Problem for Australia – 29 October 2009

Brisbane Times – Indonesia governor rebels on refugees – 27 October 2009

Brisbane Times – Police head to Asia to fight smugglers – 27 October 2009

Sydney Morning Herald – UN puts Rudd policies in spotlight – 27 October 2009

The Government Monitor – Australia Government Committed to Mandatory Detention On Christmas Island – 26 October 2009

Gaston Flosse Alleges French Violated European Human Rights Convention

By Cindy Trinh

Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

PAPEETE, French Polynesia - French Polynesia's veteran politician, Gaston Flosse, alleges that French authorities violated the European Human Rights Convention when French investigators detained his partner, Pascale Haiti. 

In September of 2009, investigators detained Haiti to question her about the corruption probe of the Office of Post of Telecommunications (OPT). The case involves the misuse of $2 million through the OPT. Flosse is alleged to be the leader of the corruption probe. 

Haiti was detained in Paris, France. Flosse stated that he believes the detainment of people close to him was merely a tactic to scare him. 

Another person detained in link to the probe of the OPT was a computer technician, who was jailed in Tahiti for suspicion of destroying evidence. The technician was kept awake for two days straight and not allowed to sleep during the questioning.

In early October 2009, investigators searched the offices of the Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party at the assembly to further inquire about the OPT corruption probe. 

On October 26, Flosse has stated to the Depeche de Tahiti newspaper that the French authorities violated the European Human Rights Convention when the investigators detained Haiti in Paris, France. 

Flosse stated that he is "repulsed by the prolonged jailing of fellow suspects." 

Many of the alleged co-conspirators have been transferred to Tahiti, and are held in prison for months. 

Flosse rejects all claims of corruption and continues to assert his innocence. 

For more information, please see:

Pacific Islands Report - Tahiti Politician Accuses France of Human Rights Abuses - 26 October, 2009

Radio New Zealand International - Flosse alleges French human rights abuse - 26 October, 2009

Islands Business - French Polynesia's Tahoeraa assembly offices searched - 9 October, 2009

Radio Australia News - French Polynesia bans Flosse for one year - 25 September, 2009

Radio New Zealand International - Partner of French Polynesia's Flosse detained in Paris - 24 September, 2009

People's Committee for Political Reform in Tonga Hopes to Submit Petition for New Prime Minister

By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga - The People's Committee for Political Reform in Tonga hopes to present a petition to the King requesting for a new Prime Minister. The petition is in accordance with the Tongan Women's National Congress, who also seeks the replacement of the current Prime Minister, Dr. Feleti Sevele.

The leader of the protest for women's rights, Mele Amanaki, has continued to pray and fast until Sevele is replaced. Amanaki and other members of the Tongan Women's National Congress have been fasting for almost two weeks in a protest against the poor governance of Sevele. They argue that the Sevele administration's blatant failure to recognize women's rights and the injustices they suffer must come to an end.

On October 22, 2009. Amanaki started drinking water after eight straight days of fasting. However, the King did not respond to her petition seeking the replacement of Sevele. In response, Amanaki stated: "I have faith in God that he's going to grant what we want and it's amazing the strength that he gives me. It's not that I could go and run a marathon but to be able to go without food for 10 days I just praise the Lord because he's the one who gives me strength."

Currently, approximately 800 women are fasting one day a week in support of the protest.

On October 23, 2009, the People's Committee for Political Reform in Tonga announced that it hopes to present a petition calling for the replacement of Sevele. The petition has close to 6,000 signatures, and follows the petition of Amanaki and the Tongan Women's National Congress.

A representative of the People's Committee for Political Reform, Isileli Pulu, criticizes the current administration's handling of various issues, including the rising crime rate against women. She states that the two organizations are supporting each other, and they are "hoping that the King will make a wise decision on how to handle this because this is not the first time for us to submit a petition for the Prime Minister to resign and hopefully the King will concede our petitions and act likewise."

Opponents to the hunger strike do not believe that protesting in this manner is the appropriate way to overthrow Sevele. The chairperson of Tonga's Civil Society Forum, Drew Havea, stated that the Forum does not "condone a protest hunger strike aimed at toppling the Prime Minister."

The Civil Society Forum opposes the same issues as does the Tongan Women's National Congress, but it does not agree with the approach the Congress is taking. Havea stated that the Civil Society Forum belongs to "a Christian denomination and we don't think it is God's will for us to take our lives. I mean the issues we need to work in whatever ways, we can support, but not to commit suicide."

For more information, please see:
Islands Business - The People's Committee for Political Reform in Tonga says it hopes to present a petition calling for a new Prime Minister to the King this afternoon - 23 October, 2009

Pacific Islands News Association - Tonga People's Committee for Political Reform poised to submit petition to King - 23 October, 2009

Radio New Zealand International - Tonga People's Committee for Political Reform poised to submit petition to King - 23 October, 2009

Radio New Zealand International - Tongan hunger striker now drinking but still determine to fast until death - 22 October, 2009

Prisoners in Papua New Guinea Attempt Jailbreak for Not Being Fed

By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

MOUNT HAGEN, Papua New Guinea - Prisoners at a Papua New Guinea jail attempted to escape because they were not fed for two consecutive days. Prison guards successfully stopped the 487 prisoners from escaping. The prison break would have been the country's biggest mass break-out in history.

The Baisu prison, located near Mount Hagen in the Western Highland Province of Papua New Guinea, only has capacity for 300 inmates, yet it holds 800 inmates.  A warder stated that the prison is extremely overcrowded and the facilities are "rundown." The 800 inmates were starving and left without food because a contract with the prison's food suppliers had expired.

The chief superintendent of Baisu jail, Simon Sobaim, explained that the prisoners had nothing to eat since Sunday, October 18 because of a dispute between rival food suppliers over the contract with the prison.

As a result of the lack of food, three of the inmates fell ill. Fellow inmates were furious and demanded that the ill inmates be taken to the hospital. Soon after, 487 of the prisoners attempted to escape the prison on Tuesday afternoon. 

The inmates were able to get pass three layers of fencing. Many of the watch towers at the prison had been pulled down because they were rotten and in extremely poor condition. Thus, the prisoners were able to pass the fencing more easily. The prison guards had to fire shots at the escapees to stop them, but no one was killed.

Sobaim stated that this incident "would not have happened had the ongoing ration problem been resolved." The police commissioner has asked the former contractor to return to feed the inmates, and will continue to supply food until the dispute over the contract is resolved.

A representative of the prisoners stated that the next time the prisoners "were made to go hungry, they would simply walk out and risk being shot dead." The representative further stated that "while they were lawbreakers, they had a right under the law to be fed."

For more information, please see:
The National - Jail Drama - 21 October, 2009

Radio New Zealand International - Prisoners in PNG attempt to escape jail for not being fed - 21 October, 2009

The Timaru Herald - PNG's biggest ever prison break prevented - 21 October, 2009

Times Online - Prison guards thwart mass breakout in Papua New Guinea - 21 October, 2009

UPI Asia - Hungry Papua inmates' jailbreak foiled - 21 October, 2009

Joint Effort Undertaken to End People Smuggling

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

CANBERRA, Australia –Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd agreed to cooperate on people smuggling after meeting today in Jakarta.

At a meeting following Yudhoyono’s inauguration to a second five-year term, Australia sought Indonesia’s assistance in controlling the number of refugees attempting to enter the country.  The two countries anticipate that asylum seekers will continue to seek refuge in Australia as the year comes to a close.

Cooperation is necessary because people smuggling involves the entire region, not just one or two countries.  Not only must the country of origin be involved, but the transit and destination countries must also be involved in order to settle the problem.

Over the next few weeks, officials from the immigration office, navy and the police will set forth guidelines to deal with boats intercepted in international waters.  The framework will provide a way for the governments to facilitate the resolution of people smuggling issues in the future so that they may avoid doing so on an ad hoc basis. 

Officials will report to the President and the Prime Minister at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit to be held in Singapore this November.

The countries did not establish the type of assistance that Indonesia would need to prevent people from trying to enter Australia.

There have also been reports that Australia will pay Indonesia incentive payments in order to stop people smuggling, but Australian Immigration Minister Chris Evans has dismissed these reports as “speculation”.

The Government claims that Indonesia has used its police, immigration department and other agencies in the past to assist Australia in putting an end to people smuggling. 

Evans indicated that Australia would provide funding to the UN’s refugee agency.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s administration and the opposition party have engaged in serious debate over the appropriate measures to address people smuggling.

Currently, there are approximately 255 Sri Lankans being held in Indonesia.  Australian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said that it is up to Indonesia, not Australia, to determine the fate of these individuals.  

For more information, please see:
ABC News – Asylum seekers deal temporary: Indonesia – 21 October 2009

The Australian – Asylum-seeker incentive offer ‘speculation’ – 21 October 2009

Kompas.com – Framework Needed by Australia and Indonesia over People Smuggling – 21 October 2009

Bloomberg – Indonesia, Australia Boost Cooperation Against People Smuggling – 20 October 2009

Opposition Officials Call on Rudd: Indonesia Should Not Be “Heavy Lifting”

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

CANBERRA, Australia – Australia and Indonesia will discuss Australia’s immigration policy in an effort to slow the number of asylum seekers attempting to enter Australia. 

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will travel to Indonesia this week, to attend the inauguration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and also to address the problem through a strategic agreement.

Reports reveal that similar to the “Pacific Solution”, implemented by former Prime Minister John Howard, Rudd’s proposal will increase aid to fund Indonesian detention centers.  The aid would also resettle asylum seekers already detained in Indonesia.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Australia is attempting to balance the deterrence of people smuggling while also treating asylum seekers humanely.  She notes that close cooperation with Indonesia has enabled the Australian Federal Police to disrupt people smuggling activities by bringing charges against more than forty people.

Some urge the Prime Minister to put pressure on Indonesia to sign the United Nations Convention for Refugees. 

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, said, "We need our Government to be working with the Indonesians, with the Malaysian Government, with all of our regional neighbours in partnership, ensuring that whoever, whenever, wherever people reach and approach for asylum that they can have their claims processed fairly and have their rights under international law upheld.”
   
Those opposing Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s administration criticized the use of Indonesia to prevent the influx of asylum seekers into Australia. 

Dean of the Melbourne University law school and refugee law expert, James Hathaway, claims that the Prime Minister is using the Indonesians to keep refugees out of Australia rather than using Australia’s own resources to do so.

“Nothing in international law allows Australia or any other state party to imprison refugee claimants – directly or by paying off partner states – for the simple act of seeking asylum.”

Refugee advocates claim that the increase in Afghan and Sri Lankan asylum seekers is a result of “life and death” not “economic” push factors, not the Rudd government’s dismissal of harsher border-protection policies imposed by the former Howard government.

Frederika Steen, a former immigration official and refugee advocate, expressed her disapproval of the hard-line border protection practices of the Howard government, which the Rudd government has dropped. 

Opposition attributes the new government’s policy, which abandoned temporary protection visas and ended mandatory detention practices, to the rise in the number of asylum-seeker boats over the last year.  The Rudd government must act now, rather than simply letting Indonesia do the “heavy lifting”, says spokeswoman Dr. Sharman Stone.

This year alone, thirty-two boats carrying 1706 asylum seekers and crew members have been intercepted and detained at the Christmas Island detention facility. 

Today marks the eighth anniversary of the sinking of Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel (“SIEV”) X, when 353 asylum seekers, of which 146 were children, attempted to make the dangerous journey to Australia via boat.  Only forty-four individuals survived. 

For more information, please see:
The Australian – Jakarta alliance hit by both sides – 19 October 2009

ABC News – People smuggling on Rudd’s Indonesia agenda – 18 October 2009

Brisbane Times – Border policies ‘ strike right balance’ – 18 October 2009

News.com.au – ‘Rudd should pressure Indonesia on refugees’ – 18 October 2009

New York Times – Australia Seeks Indonesia Asylum – Seekers Deal – Paper 16 October 2009

Leader of Tonga's For Women and Families Group Fasts for Women's Rights

By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga - The President of Tonga's For Women and Families group, Ma'a Fafine Moe Famili's Betty Blake, has taken a controversial step towards women's rights. As part of the protest against the Tongan parliament for ignoring women's rights, Blake has committed herself to fasting until the government makes some significant changes.

Recently, the Tongan government rejected the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). As a result, women who seek refuge from abuse are not receiving the adequate help they need. General Manager Ofa-Ki-Levuka Guttenbeil Likilliki for the Tonga National Centre for Women and Children (TNCWC), an NGO that provides refuge and advocacy for victims of abuse, states that women who seek refuge from abuse have no access to land or financial support because of the Tongan government's resistance to implement CEDAW.

Tonga's long history of ignoring women's rights has brought international human rights concerns. After 15 years of struggling for women's rights, Betty Blake has resorted to prayer and fasting.

Betty Blake is fasting in support of a petition calling for the removal of the Prime Minister and his deputy from office. Betty Blake states that she is committed to fasting from 6 am until 6 pm until the leaders are replaced.

In offering the reason why Betty Blake has resorted to prayer and fasting, she stated: "We see that they don't really consider the status of our people. That's why we are fasting. That's why we are crying to God. Because we know that there are a lot of things we've done in this country but it's almost like it lands on deaf ears on the people in policy and people in decision-making. So we thought this is the last thing we can do, is to fast and pray."

Betty Blake further urges the leaders of overseas governments and the international women's community to fight for change, and join the petition to replace the Prime Minister and his deputy.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International - Fasting last resort for head of Tongan women and families group - 16 October, 2009

Island Voices - Tongan leader for women and families group resorts to fasting for women's rights - 13 October, 2009

Matangi: Tonga Online - Tongan parliament blatantly ignores women's rights - 19 September, 2009

Australia Forms New Independent Committee To Facilitate Immigration Processes

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

CANBERRA, Australia – In light of recent controversy surrounding the Government’s immigration policies, Australian Immigration Minister Chris Evans announced the establishment of a new advisory board. 

The Council of Immigration Services and Status Resolution (“CISSR”) will advise the Minister on matters involving the new immigration policies, including New Directions in Detention and the newly created Community Status Resolution Service.

By providing independent advice on policies, services, and programs, the council aims to “resolv[e] the immigration status of people [seeking asylum or other migration outcomes] quickly and fairly while ensuring they are treated humanely and with dignity and respect”.

CISSR will be comprised of individuals from various sectors, ranging from a former Air Force official and a member of the Governing Council of the International Catholic Migration Commission to an Associate Professor at the University of South Australia’s school of nursing and the chair of the Violence Against Women Advisory Group.

Council members will use their diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise to assist in the implementation of the New Directions in Detention policy. 

The Minister, while expressing his gratitude to the previous Immigration Detention Advisory Group for “valuable and long-standing contribution[s]”, believes that the new committee’s “community links will help strengthen the provision of community services to immigration clients in support of timely case resolution”.

In addition to advising the Minister on programs aimed at resolving immigration status outcomes, the CISSR will also provide guidance with respect to detention matters and the “adequacy of services available to assist people whose immigration status is unresolved”.  More specifically, the council will attempt to resolve the immigration status of an individual from within the community as opposed to the confines of a detention facility.
   
This announcement comes as the Government faces problems with the influx of people seeking asylum in Australia.

The Indonesian navy intercepted a boat today carrying approximately 260 Sri Lankan asylum seekers as they attempted to get to Australia.  Many of these individuals will be taken to one of Australia’s immigration detention centers on Christmas Island to have their applications processed.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has been the subject of heavy criticism in the past few months, as opposition lawmakers blame the influx of asylum seekers on the administration’s lax immigration policy.

After coming to office in late 2007, the Prime Minister ended his predecessor’s policy, known as the “Pacific Solution”, which some lawmakers, including former immigration minister Philip Ruddock, would like to see reintroduced.  Mr. Rudd’s new policy has placed an emphasis on expediting the claims of asylum seekers held on Christmas Island rather than keeping them detained for years in facilities in Nauru or Papua New Guinea.

The Prime Minister “makes no apologies whatsoever for deploying the most hardline measures necessary to deal with problems of illegal immigration into Australia".

For more information, please see:
News.com.au – Boat fire refugees headed our way – 14 October 2009

BBC News – Australia PM seeks migrant help – 13 October 2009

Australia and New Zealand Magazine – New Advisory Body for Australian Migration Services – 12 October 2009

Australian Visa Bureau – Australian immigration advisory council announced – 12 October 2009

PS News – New Immigration Council allowed in – 12 October 2009

Australian Labor – New immigration advisory council – 09 October 2009