MEDIA STATEMENT
Friday 22 November 2013
REMAINING SRI LANKAN BOAT ARRIVALS RETURNED TO COLOMBO
The Australian Government has successfully returned every one of the 79 Sri Lankans who arrived illegally in Australia by boat Australia on October 10.
The last six Sri Lankans this week joined the group of 73 who were returned last month after arriving illegally by boat and being screened out of a protection assessment process.
The government’s new policy implementation sends a strong message that if you arrive illegally by boat, you will be sent back to Sri Lanka.
“The Australian Government’s policies are tougher than ever before and ensure that people seeking to come to Australia by boat without a visa do not get to stay in Australia,” the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Scott Morrison said today. “More than 1100 people who arrived in Australia by boat have been sent home since October 2012.”
The message is clear: people who pay smugglers are risking their lives and throwing their money away. There is no visa awaiting them, they will not get what they paid for, they will be sent home.
Australia and Sri Lanka have strong cooperation at the operational level to disrupt people smuggling ventures departing Sri Lanka.
“The Australian Government does not deal in half measures and has the policies and resolve to fight people smugglers and stop illegal boat arrivals,” the minister said.
“The government will continue to return people seeking to come to Australia illegally by boat.”
People removed involuntarily do not have access to reintegration assistance.
Media enquiries:
All enquiries about OSB should be directed to Customs and Border Protection Media: (02) 6275 6793