Australia asylum-seekers fall, bucking global trend
27/03/2012

The number of asylum-seekers arriving in Australia dropped last year according to UN data released on Tuesday, bucking a global trend that saw a spike of 20 percent to other developed nations.


This file photo shows police blocking refugee supporters during an immigration protest near Sydney, in 2010. The number of asylum-seekers arriving in Australia dropped last year according to UN data released on Tuesday, bucking a global trend that saw a spike of 20 percent to other developed nations.

Though they come in relatively small numbers by global standards, asylum-seekers are a hot political issue in Australia and dominated national elections in 2010 due to a record number of boat arrivals from Asia.

A new United Nations report, Asylum Levels and Trends in Industrialised Countries, said the numbers heading to Australia in 2011 fell nine percent -- from 12,640 in 2010 to 11,510.

This was largely due to a reduction in those arriving by boat, especially from Afghanistan.

"This report shows clearly that the numbers of asylum-seekers coming to Australia are modest -- and certainly manageable -- when compared to many other industrialized countries," said UNHCR Regional Representative Richard Towle.

In contrast, there was a 20 percent jump in arrivals to other nations, mostly driven by people fleeing Libya and other parts of north Africa by boat to southern Europe.

Most asylum-seekers to Australia traditionally come from strife-torn nations such as Afghanistan, Iran and Sri Lanka on rickety vessels from Indonesia -- a dangerous sea journey that has seen a number of fatal accidents.

Australian Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said that although the numbers were dropping, the government could not let its guard down.

"While the number of asylum claims has fallen, it remains of the utmost importance that we do everything we can to deter people from risking their lives by undertaking dangerous boat journeys," he said in a statement.

"The Malaysia arrangement is the best way to do this, and (opposition leader) Tony Abbott should get out of the way and allow the government of the day to implement its border protection policies."

Canberra clinched a deal last year to send 800 boatpeople to Malaysia in exchange for 4,000 of that country's registered refugees in a bid to deter people-smugglers from exploiting the perilous maritime voyage to Australia.

But it was struck down by the High Court, which ruled the government did not have the power to send asylum-seekers to third countries where it could not guarantee their rights.

Malaysia is not a signatory to UN refugee conventions.

The government says it is continuing regional negotiations on the issue and is determined to press ahead with offshore processing as a deterrent to illegal boat arrivals.

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