The Albanese government has quietly handed out permanent visas to more than 30,000 asylum seekers who arrived illegally by boat, sparking concerns that Australia's border security may be 'seriously weakened'.
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security → hand → concerns
More than 30,000 people who sought asylum by boat during the Rudd-Gillard era have now received Resolution of Status visas, The Australian reports.
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Australian → seek → visas
Most of these people, including more than 6,500 from Iran and more than 4,500 from Afghanistan, had already been living in Australia on Temporary Protection visas and Safe Haven Enterprise visas.
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Most → include → visas
Those visas, announced by then-immigration minister Andrew Giles in early 2023, were introduced to address the status of people who arrived during the surge in people-smuggling activity between 2009 and 2014.
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who → announce → 2009
The government had initially flagged that 19,000 visas would be handed out.
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visas → flag → ?
However, the new total far exceeds that figure, with the publication calculating that visas were being issued at a rate of about 30 per business day.
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visas → exceed → day
It is understood that more than half were granted during the first 18 months of the visa program, with around 17,000 recipients having already become Australian citizens or becoming eligible to do so.
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recipients → understand → program
The figure is backed by several immigration law practitioners quoted by The Australian, with one unnamed lawyer claiming permanent visas were frequently being issued before applicants could go to court.
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applicants → back → court
More than 30,000 people who sought asylum via boats have now received permanent visas, according to reports
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has been contacted for comment
'
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Burke → seek → comment
Very clearly, the government made a decision to issue these Resolution of Status visas to thousands of asylum seekers who were told they would never be resettled in Australia,' the lawyer said.
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lawyer → make → Australia
The Coalition's immigration spokesman, Jonno Duniam, said the increase in Resolution of Status visa grants represented a 'very serious weaking' of Operation Sovereign Borders.
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increase → say → Borders
'(It) bears out exactly what the Coalition has always said about the creation of this visa stream, especially that it would incentivise more people to be settled in Australia through this pathway,' Senator Duniam said.
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Duniam → bear → pathway
The Albanese government should never have dismantled the successful Temporary Protection and Safe Haven Enterprise visas, and they need to be urgently restored.
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they → dismantle → visas
Labor's claims that it would continue the former Coalition government's approach of ensuring that people who attempt an unauthorised boat journey to Australia will never settle permanently here are in tatters.'
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who → continue → tatters
According to the Department of Home Affairs website, permanent visa recipients are required to meet a number of requirements, including health, character and security criteria.
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recipients → accord → criteria
They must also sign and accept the 'Australian Values Statement', which calls for respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual, freedom of speech, commitment to the rule of law and a 'fair go' for all that embraces mutual respect and tolerance.
They must also commit to making 'reasonable efforts' to learn English if it is not their native language.
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it → sign → English
Permanent visa recipients must meet a number of requirements, including character and security conditions
Opposition immigration spokesman Jonno Duniam said the numbers represent a 'serious weakening' of Australia's border security
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numbers → meet → security
A Home Affairs spokesperson said not all visa grants had been issued to people in the Temporary Protection visa or Safe Haven Enterprise visa cohort, and that some had been granted in response to recent humanitarian crises.
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some → say → crises
'The Government remains committed to Operation Sovereign Borders.
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Government → remain → Borders
Australia’s border protection policies have not and will not change – anyone who attempts to travel to Australia irregularly by boat will not settle permanently here,' the spokesperson told the Daily Mail.
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spokesperson → have → Mail
'Resolution of Status grant numbers are not limited to the former TPV and SHEV cohort, and include grants made in a range of circumstances, including as part of Australia's response to recent humanitarian crises.
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numbers → limit → crises
'Each case is assessed on its merits, taking into account the individual circumstances of the case and the most current and relevant country of origin information.
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case → assess → origin
'People who do not engage protection obligations, who are not awaiting a merits or judicial review outcome, and who have exhausted all avenues to remain in Australia, are expected to depart Australia voluntarily and may be provided assistance to depart.'
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who → engage → assistance
The Aporia
