2008 - 2012

IN-COUNTRY PROCESSING AND INCREASE IN ASYLUM SEEKERS ARRIVING BY BOAT 

In 2008, the Rudd Labor Government dismantled the Pacific Solution and abolished Temporary Protection Visas. Detention centres on Nauru and Manus Island closed and onshore processing resumed.

In 2010 and 2011, the Australian Government moved to establish regional agreements with East Timor and Malaysia to manage asylum seekers, both of which subsequently collapsed.

In 2008, 161 people (excluding crew) arrived by boat in Australia. In 2009, the number jumped to 2726 and continued to rise. In 2012, there were 17,202 boat arrivals. It is estimated that 610 individuals died trying to reach Australia’s mainland to seek asylum between April 2009 and June 2012.