MORE than 1000 failed asylum seekers who have had their claims rejected but are still in Australia have been put on notice, with the Abbott government threatening to put them into detention and deport them if they refuse to return home voluntarily.
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison last night said the people in community detention or in detention centres had failed in their claims - some multiple times including judicial reviews - and had no right to be in Australia any more.
More than 30,000 asylum seekers are living on the Australian mainland after the masses of boat arrivals under the previous Labor government - residing in community detention and receiving welfare benefits paid for by taxpayers or in detention centres at a cost to taxpayers.
Mr Morrison said more than 1000 of these people had been "sitting in the network and in the community after having their claims rejected".
"The government will take the steps necessary to remove failed asylum seekers from Australia who wish to stay indefinitely at taxpayers' expense," he said.
"Once you have had your asylum claims assessed and rejected not just by the department but also on appeal, it's time to go home, as you have been assessed as not being owed protection.
...assessed as not being owed protection...I wonder what they were assesed as?
The name of that boat has got to be photoshopped hasn't it?
@**meep** wrote:
The name of that boat has got to be photoshopped hasn't it?
apparently not
http://www.theage.com.au/national/first-asylum-boat-for-new-year-20140101-3067e.html
