Weekly media round-up No. 20

The UNHCR has predicted that the number of refugees generated by the South Sudan conflict could reach 125 000, with up to 400 000 people internally displaced.

Indonesia’s military chief General Moeldoko has denied reports that he ‘agreed’ with Australia’s practice of turning asylum seekers’ boats to Indonesia. Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa reiterated his country’s opposition to the policy, following reports two asylum seeker have been were turned back in recent weeks. The UNHCR warned that boat turn backs potentially place Australia in breach of international law. Immigration Minister Scott Morrison insisted that Australia's action is legal.

Defence sources have reportedly told Fairfax Media that the government is buying up to 16 hard-hulled lifeboats which could be used to send back asylum seekers intercepted on unseaworthy boats.

The Guardian has obtained documents detailing more than 110 significant incidents at the Manus Island detention centre between March and June 2013, including mass hunger strikes, serious assaults and attempts at self-harm.

Defending his government’s tight control over information on asylum seeker arrivals, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has likened the fight against people smugglers to a war. Scott Morrison has again issued a written statement in lieu of a weekly media briefing, and told SBS Radio that media conferences on Operation Sovereign Borders will be held ‘when necessary’. 

Nauru increased its visa fee for journalists from $180 to around $7000, making it one of the most expensive places in the world for journalists to visit.

Weekly media round-up No. 19

The UNHCR said that the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has reached one million as a result of the conflict in the Central African Republic. Many have fled to refugee camps, the bush or neighbouring countries.

Amnesty International criticised Bulgaria’s treatment of repatriated refugees, describing the conditions they are held in as ‘deplorable’. The New York Times reports that many of the returned asylum seekers are from Syria.

In Australia, the Opposition and the Greens accused the Government of a ‘cover-up’ following the release of Department of Immigration and Border Protection documents detailing a security incident on Manus Island in October 2013. Information of the incident was redacted on the basis that it would damage relations with Indonesia.

Scott Morrison announced that there had been 901 ‘illegal maritime arrivals’ from October to December 2013 – the lowest for the December quarter since 2008. However, the burden on the navy of ongoing surveillance and rescue missions has highlighted capacity and operational challenges faced by the patrol boat fleet. The first asylum seeker vessel for 2014 was intercepted on Thursday 95 nautical miles north of Darwin.

The alleged rape of an asylum seeker on Christmas Island drew attention to Serco staffing levels. The Government removed the alleged victim from accommodation with single adult males. In the face of criticism by the UNHCR at the slow rate in processing protection claims, the government released a document that says that the Nauru Refugee Status Determination Office has interviewed about 600 asylum seekers.

Weekly media round-up No. 18

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison stopped holding weekly news conferences on asylum seeker boat arrivals, instead issuing a written statement with no opportunity for journalists to ask questions. Mr Morrison's office said that 355 asylum seekers arrived in December though none in the past week.

Serco announced it has secured a six-month extension to its contract with the Australian Government for the provision of detention services on the mainland and Christmas Island. Fairfax media reports that each asylum seeker who tries to reach Australia on a boat could cost taxpayers almost half a million dollars.

An Iranian asylum seeker who miscarried on Christmas Island said her requests for medical attention were ignored. The Australian Human Rights Commission said doctors’ letter of concern is 'chilling in its scientific clarity' in detailing inhumane treatment.

An intellectually disabled woman seeking asylum and her family were moved from detention in Christmas Island to the Australian mainland. Amnesty International reported on conditions in the Manus Island detention centre.

Community leaders urged Lebanese asylum seekers to return home voluntarily from detention on Nauru and Manus Island. Zimbabwe's ambassador to Australia asked for political asylum days before her term ends saying she fears for her safety if she returns home.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported one in five people living in Lebanon are refugees who have fled the conflict in neighbouring Syria.

Pope Francis called for dignity for refugees fleeing misery and conflict in his Christmas Day speech.

Weekly media round-up No. 17

Doctors on Christmas Island issued a letter of concern, illustrating problems around the medical procedures given to asylum seekers prior to being sent to an offshore facility. Immigration Minister Scott Morrison denied the receipt of the letter, despite claims that it had been with his department for two weeks.

 Scott Morrison proposed a new rule for asylum seekers in the community on bridging visas, stating that they may be sent back to detention for anti-social behaviour relating to disruptions caused by overcrowding in apartments.

 Mr Morrison also decided to overturn the freeze on the granting of protection visas for asylum seekers, after his previous announcement made earlier in December. The move follows an action by refugee lawyers to challenge Morrison's visa cap.

 A report by the Customs and Border Protection Service found that Australian authorities acted appropriately when it took them two days to co-ordinate a search and rescue effort for an asylum seeker boat seen near Christmas Island in June. It is believed that the 60 occupants of this vessel perished at sea.

Weekly media round-up No. 16

The Abbott Government has sacked the Immigration Health Advisory Group, a group formed to advise DIAC on the health asylum seekers. Facing a larger than predicted budget deficit, the Government has flagged large increases in the cost of offshore processing of asylum seekers. The Salvation Army announced the cancellation of its $74m contract to provide services to asylum seekers.

Amnesty International released a report criticising the EU for its response to the Syrian refugee crisis. The report noted that only 10 EU member states had offered to resettle Syrian refugees. Amnesty International released a separate report condemning at the Manus Island Detention facility. The report noted such deficiencies as inadequate access to medical services, water and clothing. In the same week, the Australian Government disbanded an independent panel that provided advice in regards to the mental health of refugees in detention.

Prime Minister Abbott this week encouraged Indonesia to resume diplomatic relations following its suspension in late November. On several occasions in recent weeks, the Government has attributed a fall in asylum boat arrivals to the success of Operation Sovereign Borders. In response, researchers from the University of Queensland conducted an analysis of maritime arrival statistics. They found “no sign that the election of the Abbott Coalition Government has had any impact on arrivals whatsoever.”

Weekly media round-up No. 15

The UNHCR estimates that more than three million people have now fled the Syrian conflict. Germany announced that it will double its intake of Syrian refugees to 5000.

The European Commission has proposed paying countries in the European Union €6,000 for each refugee registered with the United Nations that they resettle.

Twenty seven asylum seekers spent three days undetected on Christmas Island after their boat was wrecked off the coast.

The government’s attempt to reintroduce Temporary Protection Visas was blocked by Labor and the Greens. Immigration Minister Scott Morrison responded by announcing that the government would cease processing the current backlog of 33,000 permanent protection visa applications.

The Prime Minister Tony Abbott indicated that the government is concerned about the way the Refugee Convention has been ‘imported into Australian law’.

Weekly media round-up No. 14

With Australia-Indonesia cooperation on people smuggling on hold, Indonesia’s national police chief said boats headed to Christmas Island were not Indonesia’s responsibility.

A group of unaccompanied minors were evacuated from detention on Nauru due to mental health concerns expressed by the Nauruan government. Children detained on Christmas Island and Nauru are not allowed to attend school.

Lawyers are confident a baby born to asylum seekers in Brisbane will be granted citizenship by the federal court. Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi said "justice has to be tempered by mercy" in relation to the case. Asylum seekers on bridging visas report living on one meal a day and sleeping in cramped conditions living in the community.

UNHCR has released on conditions in detention centres on Manus and Nauru, saying the policies breach international law and amount to inhumane treatment, lowering the quality of care offered to asylum seekers offshore. UNHCR further criticised the ‘sharp deterioration’ of refugee protection in Australia in the past year.

Weekly media round-up No. 13

Relationships with Indonesia were strained by revelations Prime Minister Yudhuyono’s phone was targeted by Australian security officials in 2009. The diplomatic fallout of the past week cast doubt on the viability of the government’s asylum seeker policy, which relies on cooperation with Indonesia. Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard urged Mr Abbott not to tap phones in future.

A senior Indonesian immigration official indicated that the government will cease surveillance aimed at stopping boat traffic. At the same time, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison assured the public that the Coalition’s policy will operate independently of Indonesia’s policy.

Mr Morrison predicted that the coming weeks would be a time of higher arrivals as people smugglers sought to launch attempts before the beginning of the monsoon season. 40 asylum seekers were rescued when the navy boat towing them toward Christmas Island damaged their vessel’s bow, making it unseaworthy.

ABC’s Four Corners revealed that people smugglers have been selling travel documents in Indonesia, allowing asylum seekers to fly into Australia on commercial flights, as opposed to arriving by boat. Meanwhile, during questioning at the Senate Estimates hearings, DIAC Secretary Martin Bowles revealed the cost of detaining asylum Seekers on Nauru and Manus Island was almost $1 billion this financial year.

Criticism of the government’s engagement with the media on asylum issues has continued. The challenge of maintaining secrecy around operational issues was highlighted this week, when the head of Operation Sovereign Borders, Angus Campbell, confirmed to a Senate committee that the boat buy-back scheme had been scrapped.

A Rohingyan woman delayed her return to Nauru after recently giving birth in a Brisbane hospital. 

Weekly media round-up No. 12

After a stand-off with Indonesia over an asylum boat, which reinforced the complexity of Australia’s relationship with the country, Prime Minister Tony Abbott promised that the government will not yield to people smugglers. In an apparent misinterpretation of the international law of the sea, the Prime Minister claimed that Jakarta should take responsibility for asylum seekers rescued by Australian authorities in Indonesia’s search and rescue zone. Despite reports that Indonesia accepted two asylum seeker boats in this situation, the country may seek to limit the size of its search and rescue area.

At this year’s CHOGM conference, Mr. Abbott announced that Australia will give Sri Lanka two retired navy patrol boats to assist with regulating people smuggling activity.

Last week, an asylum seeker boat carrying 163 passengers was confirmed to have arrived in Darwin. Federal Opposition frontbencher, Tony Burke, called for the government to release more information about boat arrivals.

Workers in offshore detention centres reported that conditions have worsened for asylum seekers as a direct result of the change of government. In response to reports that a female asylum seeker in Brisbane was separated from her new-born baby overnight, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said that it was “common practice” for this to occur.

The account of two journalists who attempted to experience the asylum seeker boat journey to Australia was published in the New York Times magazine.

Weekly media round-up No. 11

The European Court of Justice ruled that homosexuals with a well founded fear of persecution have the right to claim asylum in the European Union as members of a ‘particular social group’. The decision has particularly significant implications for homosexuals living in African nations that hold legal punishments for homosexuality.

Australian and Indonesian authorities openly disagreed about the Australian Government’s ongoing pursuit of its policy to turn back asylum seeker boats to Indonesia.

On Friday, Indonesian authorities refused Australia’s request to transfer 63 asylum seekers to the Indonesian mainland. An Australian naval vessel recovered the asylum seekers on Thursday morning from the Indonesian search and rescue zone.

During the incident Indonesian authorities outlined a new position, saying they would only facilitate boat turn backs if asylum seekers’ lives were at risk. The Australian immigration minister subsequently ordered that the asylum seekers be transferred to Manus Island or Nauru.

The Australian Government continues to be criticised for a lack of disclosure regarding asylum seeker boat arrivals. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson Young said she would use powers in the senate to compel the Australian Government to provide more information about Operation Sovereign Borders.

Australian media reported that two unaccompanied teenage boys are being held in isolation at the Manus Island detention facility. Subsequent to this report, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said the boys would be moved to Christmas Island.

Weekly media round-up No. 10

Amnesty International released a report revealing that people fleeing Syria are being turned back at the Jordanian border. UNHCR Coordinator for Middle East and North Africa has estimated that that conflict may generate up to 5 million refugees.

Responding to the concerns of other European Union countries, Serbia has vowed to step up its efforts to prevent people lodging ‘false’ claims for asylum. Italy’s coast guard has rescued around 700 refugees in a 24-hour period.

The Australian reports that authorities in Nauru have processed just one application for asylum in over a year. Indonesia has agreed to increase its naval patrols in an effort to detect and disrupt people smuggling operations. Demand for people smugglers has reportedly dropped in Indonesia.

The immigration department released its annual report. The report reveals that five people died in immigration detention in the 2012/13 financial year.

Two refugees detained indefinitely as a result of adverse security assessments have attempted suicide in the past fortnight. The immigration department has agreed to implement the recommendations of the Commonwealth Immigration Ombudsman’s report on self-harm and suicide in detention centres, released in May 2013.

The immigration minister has denied reports that two asylum seekers in Darwin were transferred to Christmas Island as a result of talking to the media.

The Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, is meeting with Iranian officials to discuss the repatriation of Iranian nationals who have lodged unsuccessful claims for asylum in Australia. Almost a third(p7) of detainees in Australia’s immigration detention network are Iranian.

The University of New South Wales launched the Andrew & Renata Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law.

Anyone requiring support dealing with challenging emotional issues can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Weekly media round-up No. 9

 Immigration Minister Scott Morrison defended the heavily criticised redefining of asylum seekers arriving by boat from ‘irregular maritime arrivals’ to ‘illegal maritime arrivals’, stating the term refers only to mode of entry.

The government has faced further criticism for the suppression of information about asylum seeker boat arrivals. On Manus Island an emergency evacuation of staff on 18 October left asylum seekers locked inside the detention centre. The minister could not be contacted for comment. The temporary facility is at capacity, with a backlog of around 2000 people on Christmas Island awaiting relocation.

The annual Mapping Social Cohesion report says the proportion of people who think asylum seeker boats should be turned back has risen from 23 per cent in 2010 to 33 per cent this year, with 18 per cent saying asylum seekers who reach Australia by boat should be able to apply for permanent residency. The Anglican Church has called for a ‘sane conversation’ on asylum seeker policy.

An Australian Human Rights Commission report warns that returned asylum seekers from Sri Lanka risk harm under the government's enhanced screening process, while the Refugee Council of Australia says the reintroduction of Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs) is ‘needlessly punitive’. Medical professionals urged the government to urgently review its policy of overseas detention of pregnant asylum seekers. 

In Indonesia, a west Timorese businessman suggested a 2009 oil spill forced fishermen to turn to people smuggling, while experts advise Australia’s deportation of seven West Papuan asylum seekers in September to Papua New Guinea breaches its obligations under the Refugees Convention.

Further afield, Italy has committed to overhauling Europe’s asylum policies and urged European Union action, following the deaths of more than 550 asylum seekers at sea this month. The United Kingdom’s controversial ‘Go home' vans are to be scrapped and 50,000 refugees may be granted ‘asylum amnesty’.

Weekly media round-up No. 8

The New York Times reports that more than two million people have spread across the Middle East and Europe as a result of the civil war in Syria, while 4.25 million people have been displaced internally. France has agreed to accept 500 Syrian refugees, in spite of opposition from the far-right National Front Party.

Ian Rintoul, of the Refugee Action Coalition, claims that sending seven West Papuans (including a 10 year old child) back to PNG is a violation of a 2003 Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian and PNG governments. The group fears for their safety, as they will be held in close proximity to the Indonesian border.

The UNHCR has confirmed that a second pregnant woman is being held in detention in Nauru. Advocates have expressed concern over the level of available medical care.

A boat believed to be carrying 60 asylum seekers has arrived at Christmas Island. Christmas Island administrator and Former ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has called on Bill Shorten to denounce the asylum policy that the ALP took to the recent election.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has indicated he will not be discussing incidents of self-harm for fear of ‘endorsing [or]… encouraging that behaviour’.

While Mr Morrison has stated that the increased Indonesian police activity, and increased funding for the Australian Federal Police activities in Indonesia has resulted in arrests of ‘high value targets’, former immigration minister Tony Burke insists this a continuation of a trend observed prior to the change of government.

The High Court earlier this week dismissed an appeal by an Indonesian man against his five-year mandatory sentence for people smuggling offences.

Weekly media round-up No. 7

Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison made his first visit to Nauru, where he inspected the detention processing facility. Under Operation Sovereign Borders, pregnant women seeking asylum will give birth on the island. Mr. Morrison claimed that crime rates associated with asylum seekers in the community are rising, a factor that has led to ten people being stripped of bridging visas since the federal election.

Reports suggest people smuggling operations have reduced in activity due to the Coalition’s hardline immigration policy, which Mr. Morrison states will not change amid speculation after Tony Abbott’s visit to Indonesia. In Jakarta, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib  Razak affirmed his commitment to assist Australia to tackle asylum seeker issues.

The European Commission has called for the support of a proposed Mediterranean-wide patrol operation  in a bid to prevent refugee deaths at sea.

Liberal Democrats Senator-elect David Leyonhjelm predicts that Prime Minister Abbott’s immigration policy will fail and has recommended an approach that would see asylum seekers charged $50,000 for permanent residency in Australia.

Former Howard government immigration minister Amanda Vanstone claims asylum seekers are targeting the media to gain sympathy, and hence, entry into Australia.

Weekly media round-up No. 6

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres says his agency is being 'stretched to the limits' by the current combination of crises generating refugees.

Syria's neighbours have called for greater international assistance in helping them cope with the more than two million people who have fled Syria since 2011. The World Bank  estimated that Lebanon is now hosting around a million Syrian refugees, an amount equivalent to 22 per cent of the population. At a crisis meeting in Geneva, 17 countries, including Australia, agreed to establish special quotas to settle over 10,000 Syrian refugees. While noting that Australia was 'going to do its bit in terms of what is going on in Syria', Immigration Minister Scott Morrison warned that there would not be 'any sympathy for anyone who comes on a boat and seeks to come in claiming to be affected by the Syrian conflict'.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott apologised to Indonesia for previous governments putting 'sugar on the table' for people smugglers. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said both countries were 'victims' of people smugglers. A marked change in language from Mr Abbott has led some to question whether he is walking away from his pledge to turn back to Indonesia boats of asylum seekers.

Mr Abbott has also indicated that Australia may not proceed with an arrangement agreed to in February for New Zealand to resettle 150 refugees processed in Australia each year. The agreement has strong public support in New Zealand.

The New Zealand High Court will hear the case of a Kiribati man seeking asylum on the basis that rising sea levels make it unsafe for him and his family to return home.

Mr Morrison has rejected claims that Australian authorities failed to respond adequately to distress calls from a boat carrying 80 asylum seekers that sank off the coast of Indonesia. Around 50 people are confirmed dead or missing. Greens' leader Christine Milne called for an inquiry. Fairfax Media estimates more than 1500 asylum seekers have now died trying to reach Australia by boat.

Australian authorities have transferred a group of seven West Papuan asylum seekers to Papua New Guinea.

Weekly media round-up No. 5

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison held an inaugural briefing on Operation Sovereign Borders. The government was criticised by the opposition for its decision to contain asylum boat arrival announcements to these briefings.

Ahead of Prime Minister Abbott's visit to Indonesia scheduled for 30 September, Foreign Minister Dr Marty Natalegawa said the Australian Government’s boat turn back policy could jeopardise bilateral relations.  Former Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer disagreed, calling for a solution to asylum seekers arriving by boat.

Domestically, refugee advocates sought to prevent the transport of a mentally ill boy to Nauru or Manus Island. 

Weekly media round-up No. 4

The government’s asylum policy, Operation Sovereign Borders, began on Wednesday and is headed by a three-star general. Prime Minister Abbott has promised the policy of boat buy-backs and towbacks will make a difference from day one.

Ahead of Prime Minister Abbot’s visit to Indonesia, MP Tantowi Yahya has labelled the Coalition’s asylum seeker policy offensive and illegal.  Research shows Indonesia is prosecuting more people smugglers, but most convicted are crew members rather than organisers. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has said Australia seeks understanding not permission from Indonesia.

Companies running detention centres in Australia and offshore have failed to report on the safety and care of people in detention, dating back several years. Lawyer Julian Burnside has proposed the Tasmania Solution, assigning the island as a place of detention.

Weekly media round-up No. 3

With an asylum seeker boat carrying 88 people arriving hours in the wake of last weekend’s election victory, Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott is going about shaping the architecture of the Coalition government’s hardline asylum policy, Operation Sovereign Borders.

Two reporters arrived on Christmas Island after three days at sea on an asylum seeker boat. After speaking with the Australian Federal Police, the pair were processed and free to go. In closed detention, a group of Vietnamese asylum seekers staged a 24-hour hunger strike.

ASIO is reviewing the adverse security assessments of four refugees held in indefinite detention on the advice of independent reviewer Margaret Stone. Outgoing Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus urged the Coalition to reconsider its election promise to abolish the review.

Internationally, Tony Abbott began talks with the Papua New Guinea government, hoping to maintain the arrangements that the Labor government put in place. Indonesia foreign minister Marty Natalegawa rejected the Coalition’s asylum policies ahead of Mr Abbott’s visit to Jakarta.

Weekly media round-up No. 2

The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has released a summary to help you understand where the parties contesting Saturday’s federal election stand on refugee issues.

The Coalition announced that it would no longer be funding legal appeals by refugees as part of its regional deterrence framework this week. In a last-minute announcement before the federal election tomorrow, Shadow Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said the move will save taxpayers $100 million dollars over four years.

Scott Morrison has urged for the police to be notified before asylum seekers are released from detention into the community. Liberal candidate for the seat of Lindsay, Fiona Scott, has linked asylum seekers to traffic jams and hospital queues.

The Greens have noted an increase in party support as a result of voters being alienated by the stances of the major parties on asylum issues.

After the attempted suicide of a Somali teenager on Christmas Island, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship has denied access to the Somali community endeavouring to provide the boy with support.

As a response to the long and violent conflict in Syria, Sweden has announced that it will grant asylum to all Syrian refugees who apply. Tobias Billstroem, Sweden's Migration Minister has called for other countries to acknowledge the plight of the Syrian people.

Weekly media round-up No. 1

Tensions between the Australian and PNG governments are increasing, as  disagreements on the implementation of the Rudd government’s PNG solution continue to grow.

Less than a week–and-a-half out from the federal election, absence of questions on asylum issues was notable in the leaders’ debate on Wednesday night, as Scott Morrison released additional details on the Coalition’s regional deterrence model a few days prior.

Clive Palmer’s claim that asylum seekers receive more financial support from the government than old age pensioners has been shown to be false. A UN Human Rights Committee review has criticised the government’s indefinite detention of 46 refugees that have received negative ASIO assessments. While Australia is not bound by findings the review, the legal framework under which asylum seekers are managed will be tested in three different cases in the High Court next week.