By: footbru
15/05/2008
3:10 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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About 1,000 refugees on temporary protection visas will be given permanent residency status to live in Australia, the Rudd government has announced.
The government announced in the budget on Tuesday night it would abolish the controversial visa program set up by the previous Howard government to cover unauthorised arrivals to the country.
Under the program refugees had no travel rights, limited access to settlement services including English language programs, employment and income assistance and could not be reunited with other family members.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans said scra pping the program would provide certainty to refugees presently subject to temporary protection.
"This will mean that they will have permanent residency in Australia," he told reporters.
"(They) will have the restrictions that were placed on them, during the temporary protection visa regime removed."
Senator Evans was accompanied by a refugee who will benefit from the government's decision.
Mohammad Dawlat-Hussain, who was originally from Afghan istan and had arrived in Australia by boat, was detained on the Pacific Island nation of Nauru for nearly three years as part of the Howard government's offshore processing program.
"The bad thing about the situation was that you didn't know where you were going and where you were going to go," he told reporters.
Under the changes, Mr Dawlat-Hussain will be given permanent residency status.
Senator Evans said he did not expect the number of people applying for permanent residency in Australia to grow significantly.
"People who apply will be treated under the normal program, so it doesn't increase the size of the family reunion program, the humanitarian program."
"In terms of detention, what I've made clear is while mandatory detention will remain, we'll be keen to resolve people with immigration status much quicker."
http://au.news.yahoo.com/080515/2/p/16v5v.html |
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By: footbru
15/05/2008
3:10 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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At last.
"Thank god almighty, free at last" |
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By: deemondo
15/05/2008
3:19 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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| thank allah ps long way to come by boat as a refugee,refugee status means neighbouring country |
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By: terrycopter
15/05/2008
9:26 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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you are delusional if you think that these people are bonafide refugees
how does a refo manage to get all the way here and still claim to be penniless
im sorry but i just do not believe that they are true refugees |
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By: portaugutta
16/05/2008
10:27 am Yahoo! Profile:
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>>you are delusional if you think that these people are bonafide refugees how does a refo manage to get all the way here and still claim to be penniless im sorry but i just do not believe that they are true refugees<<
terry,
Can you tell me what law says that a refugee must be poor? They are fleeing ethnic NOT economic persecution.
Also don't be fooled by Labor, they promised that detention would be no longer than 90 days and this has not happened. Maybe they have taken a page from the Liberals "non core" promise book?
What about the long term detainees who were supposed to be told of their fate by the end of April? Still nothing. Labor's policy is no different to the Liberals, ie deport first and then if there is anyone left we still keep them in Villawood. The 'feel good' announcements by Labor were 'PR' stunts to gain the votes of those who are interested in this issue. Once over the fence they reverted back to the 'tough on immigration' mantra sold to us by John Howard who in retrospect is actually looking more truthful in the way he dealt with immigration matters. Howard told you you would get nothing and that's exactly what you got. |
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By: white.fella_returns
16/05/2008
10:32 am Yahoo! Profile:
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| The 'REPLACE AN AUSSIE POLICY' is in full swing. |
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By: theeldarguy
16/05/2008
1:06 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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Once ther TemporaryProtection Visa is changed to Permant Residency Visa, how could the Immigration Minister think that the levels of immigration will stay the same? Once the word is out, we'll be the target for every people-smuggling orga nisation in the world (and some deportation programs from US and UK, I'm thinking).
On the flip side, It will now be legal to get a Balinese family to do your home duties and it will be easier and cheaper under the Labor govt.
Are we letting these new residents voting right? |
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