Australian navy intercepts asylum seeker boat carrying 77 passengers
Australian navy intercepts asylum seeker boat carrying 77 passengers
16:04, January 08, 2011

Email | Print | Subscribe | Comments | Forum 
Another asylum seeker boat has been intercepted trying to reach Australia's shore, authorities confirmed on Saturday.
According to Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor, the asylum seeker boat was initially detected by a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) AP-3C aircraft, and the navy patrol boat HMAS Larrakia boarded the vessel east of the Ashmore Islands on Friday night.
"Initial indications suggest there are 77 passengers and four crew on board," he said in a statement released on Saturday.
The passengers and crew will be transferred to Christmas Island for security, identity and health checks, while O'Connor said their reasons for travel will also be established.
Earlier on Friday, federal government announced it will speed up its process to determine if asylum seekers have a valid claim for refugee status.
According to Immigration Minister Chris Bowen, the changes will make the initial assessment of claims faster and give asylum seekers more opportunity to respond to negative information.
Bowen also said asylum seekers in offshore detention whose claims are rejected will now be able to appeal in the full range of Australian courts.
The changes came after a High Court judgment earlier found some asylum seekers who arrived by boat were not treated with procedural fairness.
Source: Xinhua
According to Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor, the asylum seeker boat was initially detected by a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) AP-3C aircraft, and the navy patrol boat HMAS Larrakia boarded the vessel east of the Ashmore Islands on Friday night.
"Initial indications suggest there are 77 passengers and four crew on board," he said in a statement released on Saturday.
The passengers and crew will be transferred to Christmas Island for security, identity and health checks, while O'Connor said their reasons for travel will also be established.
Earlier on Friday, federal government announced it will speed up its process to determine if asylum seekers have a valid claim for refugee status.
According to Immigration Minister Chris Bowen, the changes will make the initial assessment of claims faster and give asylum seekers more opportunity to respond to negative information.
Bowen also said asylum seekers in offshore detention whose claims are rejected will now be able to appeal in the full range of Australian courts.
The changes came after a High Court judgment earlier found some asylum seekers who arrived by boat were not treated with procedural fairness.
Source: Xinhua

Related Reading
Former Guantanamo Bay detainee drops torture case against Australian gov't
Asylum seekers expected to flood Australian courts to appeal failed bids
600 Australian homes remain under water in flood-hit Queensland: premier
Australia's Queensland flood recovery may take years: Taskforce leader
Australian gov't to provide faster processing for asylum seekers
Australian PM visits Western Australia to prepare for Commonwealth summit
Australian PM vows to bring budget back to surplus in 2012/13
Magellan mine in Western Australia shut down after lead leaks

Special Coverage
Major headlines
Editor's Pick


Hot Forum Dicussion