AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2001
Fed: Govt to tighten immigration laws as boatpeople wait
The federal government is foreshadowing a tightening of immigration laws while the
latest boatpeople to reach Australia await their fate on Christmas Island.
Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD was commenting after the second-largest group of boatpeople
to arrive in the country ran aground on Christmas Island yesterday.
The prime minister is ruling out removing asylum seekers' right to appeal but accuses
some detainees of stretching out the legal process.
Mr HOWARD told Melbourne radio 3AW if the laws are toughened and the assessment process
shortened it will make it harder for people to abuse the legal system.
Immigration Minister PHILIP RUDDOCK also took aim at the legal system.
He says the courts contribute to the large numbers of illegal immigrants because of
the broad definition they apply to refugees.
Mr RUDDOCK told reporters the courts are applying a different refugee convention to
the one that is being applied by the United Nations.
He says it needs to be brought back into line.
The latest boatpeople arrived yesterday carrying three Indonesian crew and 348 asylum
seekers, including 147 children believed to be of Middle Eastern origin.
AAP RTV mk/jjs/pc/jas
KEYWORD: DETENTION (SYDNEY)
2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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