Australian Immigration and Citizenship Minister Chris Bowen yesterday announced the second successful transfer of irregular maritime arrivals to the Pacific island nation of Nauru, where they will be processed.
A group of 36 Sri Lankan men left Christmas Island on Monday on a charter aircraft, escorted by the Australian Federal Police, Department of Immigration and Citizenship and medical staff. They arrived in Nauru on September 18.
"The second transfer has taken place smoothly, sending a strong deterrence message to anyone considering risking their lives on dangerous boat journeys," Bowen said. "On arrival in Nauru, as is usual for people entering a foreign country, transferees were subject to relevant immigration, customs and quarantine clearance processes.
They will now be settled into their accommodation at the temporary facility and go through induction processes."
Selection of this first group was based on operational issues and an assessment of their particular circumstances to confirm transfer was appropriate.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian and Nauruan governments was signed on August 29. Accommodation and other facilities at Nauru have now been established and Nauru is designated as a 'regional processing country' under the new provisions of the Australian Migration Act 1958.
Transfers will now continue to take place regularly.
Bowen said the government is committed to implementing the expert panel on asylum seekers' key principle related to a strategic, comprehensive and integrated policy approach that provides no advantage to people choosing to travel to Australia by boat.
Source: Daily News (20th September 2012)
