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Australia passes controversial immigration law amendment

16 May 2013 09:13 am - 7     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Australian senate today adopted a controversial amendment to the 'Migration Act', allowing people who arrive by boat to be processed at offshore facilities on Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus Island.

The moves is aimed at discouraging asylum-seekers showing up on Australia's shore illegally through sea route.

Mainland Australia will now be out of the migration zone and all asylum-seekers who arrive anywhere in Australia will be eligible to be sent offshore, according to Australian Associated Press report.

The amendment was passed with the support of the ruling coalition.

The amendment was introduced by the former John Howard-led government tried in 2006, and has been criticised by the Greens party, which called it "a stain on national character".

Greens leader Christine Milne said, "the nation was horrified that a prime minister would seek to wipe Australia off the map. This legislation that we are debating here today is stain on our national character."

 She recalled former Prime Minister Howard's failed attempt to pass the amendment in 2006. Australia was contravening the United Nation's refugee convention by discriminating against asylum seekers based on their mode of arrival, she said.

Under the 'Migration Amendment (Unauthorised Maritime Arrivals and Other Measures) Bill 2012', mainland Australia will join Ashmore Island, Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, and Cocos Islands to be excluded from the migration zone.

The amended bill will now go to the lower house for a final approval.

According to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, a total of 6036 passengers on 96 boats have arrived on Australia's shore this year. A majority of them are from Sri Lanka. (Source: Hindustan Times)

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  Comments - 7

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  • BudinOz Thursday, 16 May 2013 09:25 AM

    The Labour government is now pressed to the wall, so they are trying everything possible to save a few votes. Come September the Australian voters will decide against who messed up this whole asylum seeker issue.

    Sonali De Silva Thursday, 16 May 2013 09:52 AM

    Now the Sri Lankans will colonize Australia like the Australians did and it will be run by illegal immigrants from Sri Lanka in a few decades time. That's when the Australians become the white Aboriginals.

    Critic Roshan Thursday, 16 May 2013 10:07 AM

    Tube light.. .. at last the Australians also learned something.

    T.Ilankai Mannan Thursday, 16 May 2013 12:18 PM

    Like the Singalese who came from Orissa and Bihar ( Subramaniyaswamy from India and the ambassador Kariyavasam of Sri Lanka has confirmed this historical fact recently) and colonized Sri Lanka applying their brutality on the innocent citizen of that time like the recent history and now they try to rule and determine the lives of the the Nagas and Yakas that includes the Tamil speaking population's ancestral land. It is not a surprise that they reflect their experiences and advice another colonialist who occupy the Aborigines(Travidians) land, Australia.

    Ceylonese Thursday, 16 May 2013 12:21 PM

    Sonali De Silva; Compared to Sri Lankans the majority of immigrants to Australia are from Britain, New Zealand, India, China and the Middle East and constitute only about one fifth of the total population of Australia.Come September the 14th the illegal boats entering the shores of Australia will be turned back as vowed by the opposition Liberal Government who are expected to win a landslide victory in the Federal Elections.

    Sri Lankan Friday, 17 May 2013 02:59 AM

    I wonder how did U forgot, the whole India was concured by "Arryans" including the SL.This is the historical truth.

    Dee Friday, 17 May 2013 04:01 AM

    There goes the hopes of greener pastures for our economic refugees(in the disguise of HR violations).


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