Detention arrangements have no impact on rejection rates

Australian Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor yesterday confirmed the Australian Government’s decision to establish new detention accommodation arrangements that will have no impact on the increasing rate of rejection of Sri Lankan asylum claims.

Minister O’Connor reaffirmed that it continues to be likely that, following an appropriate assessment, Australia will reject more asylum claims from Sri Lankans. “In recent months, there has been an increase in the number of failed Sri Lankan asylum seekers,” the Minister said.

All irregular maritime arrivals will continue to be subject to mandatory detention for health, security and identity checks.

“Failed asylum seekers will be returned to Sri Lanka”, the Minister said.

O’Connor congratulated Thai authorities, after a joint operation by Thai and Australian agencies resulted in 155 Sri Lankan nationals being detained in Bangkok Monday.

More than 225 suspected Sri Lankan irregular immigrants were subjected to immigration status inspections by Thai authorities.

About 155 were found to have either no Thai visa, no passport or to have overstayed their visa.

It is alleged that the detained Sri Lankan nationals were destined to board maritime ventures to Australia and Canada.