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| NAURU | ||||||||
| Afghan | Iraqi | Other Nationalities | Pending | TOTAL | ||||
| Approved | Refused | Approved | Refused | Approved | Refused | |||
| Initial Decision Australia | 27 | 457 | 71 | 68 | 4 | 17 | 0 | 644 |
| Initial Decision UNHCR | 32 | 244 | 126 | 75 | 14 | 22 | 0 | 513 |
| TOTAL | 59 | 701 | 197 | 143 | 18 | 39 | 0 | 1157 |
| Review Decision Australia | 38 | 399 | 26 | 36 | 0 | 6 | 37 | 542 |
| Review Decision UNHCR | 36 | 198 | 42 | 32 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 341 |
| TOTAL | 74 | 597 | 68 | 68 | 12 | 16 | 48 | 883 |
| MANUS | ||||||||
| Afghan | Iraqi | Other Nationalities | Pending | TOTAL | ||||
| Approved | Refused | Approved | Refused | Approved | Refused | |||
| Initial Decision | n/a | n/a | 235 | 73 | 11 | 19 | 0 | 338 |
| Review Decision | n/a | n/a | 24 | 22 | 3 | 10 | 33 | 92 |
11.28 The Committee is concerned at the length of time which has been taken to finalise refugee status determination, and the effects on asylum seekers of such extended periods in the processing centres.
11.29 In comparison to the results on Nauru and Manus, of the 131 people from the MV Tampa accepted by New Zealand, 130 have been found to be refugees and resettled in that country.[1244] While the high proportion of successful claims may be accounted for by New Zealand’s selection of people it thought were likely to be refugees - children, women and family groups - they are also Afghans,[1245] who have had a notably low success rate in the other processes.
11.30 If the outcome of a refugee status determination by Australian officials at one of the offshore processing centres is that a person is not a refugee, the only avenue of appeal is internal review by a more senior departmental officer. DIMIA advises that this is consistent with UNHCR procedures on Nauru.[1246] This contrasts with the avenues of appeal open to unsuccessful onshore applicants for protection as refugees, who have access to a merits review from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal or Refugee Review Tribunal and judicial review processes.
11.31 As of 16 September 2002, a further 92 Iraqis, 74 Afghans, and 15 people of other nationalities had been found to be refugees through the review process.[1247] Forty eight review decisions were still pending on Nauru, and thirty three on Manus.
11.32 The total number of people processed under Pacific Solution arrangements and found to be refugees as of September 2002 is 701, comprising 524 Iraqis, 133 Afghans, and 44 people of other nationalities. Six hundred and seventy eight people have been found not to be refugees, and 81 still await a review decision.[1248]
11.33 Resettlement of asylum seekers who are found to meet refugee status criteria is reliant upon a place being found for them in Australia or another country. As DIMIA advised a Senate Committee considering estimates in May 2002,
Australia, and the minister, have made it clear that Australia will play a role in relation to resettlement but does not regard it as being the only country with a resettlement obligation or indeed the only country with the ability to offer resettlement places. Our focus will be on people who may have ties or some links with Australia. In relation to resettlement elsewhere, there has been a series of discussions with UNHCR. Essentially we see UNHCR as being the key organisation able to deal with the resettlement issue.[1249]
11.34 As of 1 October 2002, 200 refugees processed on Manus or Nauru had been granted protection in Australia,[1250] generally with three or five year temporary protection visas. Most were women and children with family members already in Australia.
11.35 Five people had been granted subclass 449 humanitarian stay (temporary) visas, which enable the holders to remain in Australia until a date determined by the Minister.[1251] Criteria for this class of visa include not being able to return to one’s place of residence and grave fear for personal safety because of the circumstances of displacement. In not requiring that the applicant be subject to persecution or substantial harassment, this type of visa may offer protection to those not successful in obtaining refugee status but without a reasonable prospect of safe return to their home country.
11.36 Both the Australian Government and UNHCR have been in discussion with possible resettlement countries on behalf of those asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus found to be in need of protection.
11.37 As of 16 September 2002;
11.38 Ireland was at one time mooted as a potential resettlement country,[1253] and DIMIA officials indicated that following the conclusion of elections in that country discussions would continue.[1254] The UNHCR had also referred a small number of people with links to Canada and the USA to those countries for consideration.[1255]
11.39 With over 300 recognised refugees still awaiting resettlement, and further review decisions pending, the prospect remains of a large number of people who have been found to be refugees remaining in the processing centres for an indeterminate period.
11.40 The UNHCR has expressed its concerns in relation to the situation of these refugees:
Of concern to UNHCR in the cases of Nauru and Manus Island, is that refugees who have been recognized and therefore have had their status regularised remain detained until a durable solution is found. This detention is without time limits or periodic review. The ongoing detention of persons recognized as refugees is a restriction of freedom of movement in breach of Article 26 of the 1951 Convention. Furthermore, such detention is not consistent with Article 31(2) of the Refugee Convention, which provides that restrictions of freedom of movement shall only be applied until the status of refugees in the country is regularised. Even though these recognised refugees are no longer on Australia's territory, Australia's obligations under the Refugee Convention continue to be engaged until a durable solution is found.[1256]
11.41 On 16 May 2002 the Governments of Australia and Afghanistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning the voluntary return of refugees and asylum seekers. On 23 May, Minister Ruddock announced that Afghans who had arrived at, or were in transit under Australian control to, a processing centre on Nauru or Christmas Island on or before 16 May 2002 would be eligible to apply for a reintegration package if they opted to return to Afghanistan. The offer also extended to Afghans who had arrived in Australia before that date.[1257]
11.42 Persons who have been found not to be refugees, or who are awaiting a decision, are eligible to apply for a package of cash assistance of $2,000 per person (up to $10,000 per family), assistance with travel documentation, air fare to Kabul, and some on-arrival support.[1258]
11.43 On 30 May 2002 the reintegration package offer was extended to non-Afghans on Nauru and Manus who voluntarily returned to their country of origin or third countries which they had permission to enter.[1259]
11.44 The offer must be accepted within 28 days of notification of a negative refugee status assessment, or 28 days from the date of notification of a negative review decision. The package is administered by the IOM, which also distributes the cash payment. Australia reimburses the IOM for its costs.[1260]
11.45 Asylum seekers who wish to depart before a decision is made on their claim for refugee status must withdraw the claim in writing.[1261]
11.46 As of 28 June 2002, seven people from Nauru had returned to their home countries under the reintegration arrangements. These seven were part of a total of ten who had returned home voluntarily from Nauru, with a further four returning from Manus. A further 27 people on Nauru had signed voluntary reintegration papers. [1262]
11.47 The Migration Amendment (Excision from Migration Zone) (Consequential Provisions) Act No. 128 2001 introduced two classes of temporary visa which are relevant to people processed on Nauru and Manus and determined to be in need of protection. As well as meeting the relevant visa criteria, applicants need to demonstrate a compelling case and fall within the relevant quota for the visa class. As summarised by DIMIA officials in evidence to the inquiry:
There are two visas which would be the most relevant. There is the 447 visa, which is a three-year temporary visa which carries the same entitlements as a temporary protection visa onshore carries. That is the visa that should be available to people who are offshore entry persons—that is, people who have landed on an excised offshore place and who are subsequently found to be in need of protection. The other visa, which is a five-year temporary visa, is the subclass 451 visa, and that is available to people who have not landed on an excised offshore place.[1263]
11.48 The legislation was enacted in response ‘to the increasing threats to Australia’s sovereign right to determine who will enter and remain in Australia’ resulting from ‘the growth of organised criminal gangs of people smugglers who bypass normal entry procedures’.[1264]
11.49 It also reflected the Government’s concern at what it called the ‘increasingly broad interpretations being given by the courts to Australia’s protection obligations under the refugees convention and protocol.’[1265] Others have argued that the reaction is inherently flawed in that it punishes the victims exploited by people smugglers in order to combat the crime.[1266]
11.50 The Migration Amendment (Excision from Migration Zone) Act No. 127 2001 created a separate visa application regime applying to persons, now called offshore entry persons, who arrive unlawfully at certain places that are excised from the migration zone, for the purposes of limiting their ability to make valid visa applications. DIMIA have identified all the people being processed on Manus Island and at the State House site on Nauru as offshore entry persons. [1267]
11.51 The category of ‘offshore entry person’ arises from the insertion of a new definition into section 5 of the Migration Act of ‘excised offshore place’.[1268] Such places include Christmas Island, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Australian sea and resources installations. They will also include any other external territories, or State or Territory islands, prescribed by regulations. Offshore entry persons are those who have entered Australia at an excised offshore entry place after the excision time and become an unlawful non-citizen by that entry.
11.52 Offshore entry persons who are in Australia and are unlawful non-citizens are barred from making a valid visa application by the newly inserted Section 46A of the Migration Act. This bar, however, does not apply to an offshore entry person who is not in Australia, such as those on Nauru and Manus. The relevant visa class for offshore entry persons who are not in Australia and are in need of protection is the Secondary Movement Offshore Entry (Temporary) Subclass 447 Visa.[1269]
11.53 An applicant for a subclass 447 visa must either be subject to persecution in the their home country; or subject to substantial discrimination, amounting to gross violation of human rights, or a female person who is subject to persecution or is registered as being of concern to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
11.54 This visa is valid for three years. Holders of the visa are eligible for successive temporary protection visas if there is a continuing protection need, but are not eligible for permanent residence. They are not eligible to bring their families to Australia, and have the same entitlements as onshore temporary protection visa holders. The UNHCR has expressed concern at the transitory solution offered by subclass 447 visas and the negative impact on family reunification and access to travel documents.[1270]
11.55 For those persons on Nauru who are found to be refugees and did not reach Australian soil at an excised offshore place, but are considered to have bypassed or abandoned protection en route,[1271] the relevant visa would be the new Subclass 451 Visa, the Secondary Movement Relocation (Temporary) Visa.[1272] Those falling into this category include people from the MV Tampa and Aceng.[1273]
11.56 A person is considered to have bypassed or abandoned protection en route if they have, since leaving their home country, resided for a continuous period of at least seven days in a country, such as Indonesia, in which they could have sought and obtained the effective protection of that country or the offices of the UNHCR in that country.
11.57 The subclass 451 visa is a five year visa which enables a person to gain access to a permanent protection visa after four and a half years if there is a continuing need for protection. The same criteria in respect of persecution or substantial discrimination must be met by applicants for this visa as apply to the subclass 447 visa.
11.58 The Committee finds it curious that those who have been intercepted or rescued at sea have a more favourable potential visa outcome, including the possibility of permanent protection, than those who reach Australian soil, simply by virtue of not having completed the journey.
11.59 According to evidence provided to the Senate Inquiry into Migration Amendment (Further Border Protection Measures) Bill 2002, five humanitarian stay (temporary) subclass visas 449 have been granted to people processed on Nauru or Manus.[1274] This class of visa provides temporary protection for people displaced from their place of residence and with a grave fear for their safety because of the circumstances of that displacement, without requiring circumstances of persecution or substantial harassment. The duration of the visa is determined by the Minister.
11.60 Although substantial information is available on the costs associated with the operation of the offshore processing centres in Nauru and PNG, the Committee has not been able to collate an accurate picture of the full cost of the Pacific Solution. The substantive difficulty arises from the inability fully to identify the cost of the activities of the Australian Defence Force in support of the arrangements.
11.61 The establishment and operational costs of the Nauru and Manus facilities lie with the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. The Department’s budget for these activities in 2001-2002 was $114.5 million (Table 11.2),[1275] although recent advice is that the total cost for that year was $80 million.[1276]
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
Offshore Asylum Seeker Management Budgeted Costs 2001-2002
Nauru and Manus
|
NAURU $m |
MANUS $m |
|
| Establishment and infrastructure provision | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| IOM - management of facility | 46.0 | 28.0 |
| APS – additional security* | 4.5 | |
| UNHCR – processing | 1.0 | |
| DIMIA staffing and support costs | 2.7 | 2.0 |
| Asylum seeker transportation | 2.0 | 1.5 |
| Other (including medical and health) | 1.3 | 1.0 |
| Offshore operations contingency* | 4.5 | |
| 72.0 | 42.5 |
* Available for Nauru and Manus
11.62 DIMIA’s 2002-2003 budget for the offshore reception and processing of asylum seekers in third countries is $129.3 million. Forward year budgets are $99.3 million for 2003-2004, $100.5 million for 2004-2005, and $101.7 million for 2005-2006.[1278]
11.63 The Department notes that some savings can be expected in onshore processing costs as a result of the transfer of operations offshore, and have estimated these savings at $28 million in 2001-2002, and over $86 million a year from 2002-2003 on.[1279]
11.64 These savings cannot be solely offset against the cost of the Nauru and Manus centres as they are achieved through processing on Australian external territories, such as Cocos and Christmas Islands, as well as from the Pacific arrangements. DIMIA’s budget for 2002-2003 includes $81.9 million for the reception and processing of asylum seekers at Australia’s external territories, with $122.8 million for 2003-2004, $124.4 million for 2004-2005 and $126.0 million for 2005-2006.[1280]
11.65 Also included in the budget are capital costs and expenses for the construction of a new, purpose built, permanent Immigration Reception and Processing Centre on Christmas Island as part of the offshore processing strategy. Capital costs are $195 million over 2001-2002 and 2002-2003, while expenses are $9.5 million in 2002-2003 and $8.3 million in forward years.[1281] The capital cost includes $74.7 million provided in 2001-2002 to DIMIA and $116.4 million provided across DIMIA and the Department of Transport and Regional Services in 2002-2003.[1282]
11.66 The 2002-2003 budget provisions are based on the processing of 4,500 asylum seekers per annum at offshore locations, either in Australia’s external territories or in third countries such as Nauru and PNG.[1283]
11.67 The DIMIA budget for 2002-2003 also included a total of up to $5.1 million over three years in personal reintegration assistance for Afghan asylum seekers in Australia or offshore who wished to voluntarily return to Afghanistan, of which $2.6 million was specifically identified for Afghans at Nauru[1284] (there are no Afghans on Manus). A further $740,000 was allocated in 2002-2003 to a reintegration package for non-Afghan asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus.[1285]
11.68 Australia’s commitment to Nauru for extra development assistance under the FAA and MOU totals $26.5m.[1286] $19.5m was allocated for 2001-2002, $18.8 million of which was an administered item and $700,00 a departmental appropriation for expenses such as employee and administrative costs.[1287] $7 million has been allocated in 2002-2003 to fulfil the requirements of the MOU,[1288] of which $6.8 million is an administered item and $200,000 departmental appropriation.[1289] The Budget papers advise that all funding for this package has been in addition to the aid budget.[1290]
11.69 Information on AusAID payments to Nauru in 2001-2002 provided to the Senate Estimates process in February 2002 show that up to that time payments for fuel supplies had totalled $9.738 million, health $1.524 million, power plant and desalinisation $359,501, education $47,229, sports $35,957, telecommunications $5,659 and aviation $1,800.[1291]
11.70 There is no additional aid component in the agreement with PNG,[1292] which is confined to meeting the costs associated with establishing and operating the site including refurbishment of existing infrastructure and renovation of the naval base.[1293]
11.71 In evidence before the Committee, AusAID indicated that there had been no reduction in Australia’s financial assistance to other countries as a result of the Pacific Solution funding.[1294] Several submissions to the Committee had raised concerns in regard to the impact on Australia’s aid budget, and the undermining of the credibility of Australia’s good governance programs, which have been a focus of Australia’s aid efforts in the region.[1295]
11.72 For the purposes of reporting on Australia’s overall overseas development aid level, the operational costs of the offshore processing centres on Manus and Nauru are also categorised as aid, providing a potentially misleading if technically accurate picture of Australia’s aid commitment. As AusAID advised a Senate Estimates Committee in June 2002,
... it would fall under that category in the sense that it is assistance being provided to displaced persons in a developing country. It does not matter who they are displaced by.[1296]
11.73 While it is not possible to quantify the cost of the negotiation phase of the Pacific Solution, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advised that the department had absorbed a cost of about $81,000 in 2001-2002 for liaison with the Norwegian government during the Tampa crisis, staffing a crisis centre, and travel within the Pacific ‘to talk to some of the countries about possible sites to house asylum seekers’.[1297]
11.74 Under arrangements with Nauru for the processing of asylum seekers Australia has established a Temporary Consul on the island. In 2001-2002 the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade absorbed the cost of its activities on Nauru, estimated at $580,000 for the year.[1298] The Department also absorbed costs associated with a liaison officer in Manus.
11.75 For 2002-2003, $2.1 million of new funding was included in the Departmental budget for Australia’s diplomatic presence in Nauru in support of the Memorandum of Understanding.[1299] $580,000 of the $2.1 million is provided for salaries, the balance is spread across administrative expenses, property costs, plant and equipment, vehicles and depreciation.[1300] No funding has been identified in the budget papers for forward years.
11.76 It has not been possible for the Committee to quantify fully the costs of services provided by the Australian Defence Force and Department of Defence in support of the Pacific Solution.
11.77 Within the Defence Portfolio Budget Statements, funding for Operations Gaberdine and Relex is not separately identified. Both fall under the general description of operations to protect Australia’s northern and western borders from unauthorised boat arrivals.[1301]
11.78 Defence support of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs in the management of asylum seekers comes under Operation Gaberdine. Under Gaberdine, the ADF assisted with setting up facilities on Nauru, Manus, Christmas Island and Cocos Island, as well as preparing facilities for the accommodation of asylum seekers at defence establishments on the mainland.[1302]
11.79 In the 2001-2002 Defence Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements it is noted that Defence will absorb most of the costs of new operations, one of which is the deterrence of unauthorised boat arrivals. New funding of $19 million, ‘for specific additional costs that cannot be readily absorbed’, [1303] was provided to Defence in the 2001-2002 Additional Estimates Statements for this purpose, of which $12 million is listed as operating costs and $6 million new capital acquisitions related to the deployments.
11.80 The 2002-2003 Portfolio Budget Statements included a further adjustment of $22.3 million for 2002-2003, of which $19.6 million was an appropriation for operating costs and $2.7 million a new capital injection.[1304]
11.81 There is insufficient differentiation in the figures available to separate the Pacific Solution costs incurred by Defence from the broader picture of new funding and absorbed costs for the deterrence of boat arrivals.
11.82 The Defence Department has, however, provided some information on the level of activity concerned, indicating that assistance to the establishment and management of the asylum seeker processing facilities focussed primarily on the provision of ADF air-lift support, specifically C-130 aircraft.[1305]
11.83 For the period from August to December 2001, Defence flew 1,065 hours in direct support of DIMIA under Operation Gaberdine,[1306] including a period in August 2001 when up to eight C-130 aircraft were employed on Operation Gaberdine missions.[1307] Defence also chartered civilian transport aircraft to support ADF involvement, and provided advice and planning support to DIMIA and the IOM in the sourcing and chartering of commercial aircraft.[1308]
11.84 In regard to Nauru, Defence personnel were involved in developing recommendations on the contents of the First Administrative Arrangement, in discussions concerning security arrangements with the AFP and Nauru Police, and in the inspection of potential sites.[1309]
11.85 Three Defence personnel went to Nauru on 12 September to render safe, or dispose of, old and unstable ordinance and weapons, partly in response to a heightened concern on the part of Nauruan police that ‘the risk of civil unrest may increase as a result of the arrival of the people on board HMAS Manoora’.[1310] Some of the costs associated with their deployment were borne by the Defence Cooperation Program.
11.86 The ADF provided substantial engineering and air transport assistance in the construction of the first site on Nauru. The ADF element involved in the construction of the processing centre comprised a team of up to 81 personnel, including an army engineering element, RAAF personnel and construction equipment. The ADF presence on the island lasted for a period of more than two weeks, with some equipment remaining on loan to the IOM until December 2001.
11.87 Defence also provided limited support to the establishment of the processing centre in PNG, largely in the form of liaison and coordination duties. Defence was involved in discussions concerning the suitability of the site, and later provided engineering assistance and security advice concerning the centre to the PNG Defence Force under the Defence Cooperation Program.
11.88 A liaison officer was maintained on Manus Island until February 2002, and ADF personnel provided ground services support to ADF aircraft landing in PNG on Operation Gaberdine tasks. Defence provided air transport on behalf of the IOM contractor, Eurest, transporting equipment from Port Moresby and Lae to Manus Island.
11.89 The ADF has also transported asylum seekers to the offshore processing centres including, for example, the protracted involvement of the HMAS Manoora in the transportation and disembarkation of asylum seekers from the MV Tampa and the Aceng. These transportation costs have not been able to be identified.
11.90 DIMIA have estimated that the average cost for reception, processing and detention of an unauthorised arrival in Australia is about $29,000, noting that such average figures can be misleading given the large variability in the caseload.[1311]
11.91 Based on that average figure the cost for processing onshore the 1,515 people who were at one time accommodated on Nauru or Manus would have been around $44 million. This figure is simplistic in that it does not consider the cost of any expanded capacity which would have been required if those arrivals had needed to be processed on-shore, nor the financial benefits of the deterrent function of offshore processing.
11.92 Nevertheless, it is apparent that the cost of the Pacific Solution processing arrangements on Nauru and Manus to date, including additional aid funding, have been significantly more expensive than onshore processing of the same number of people. This is true even without a full accounting of the cost of the supporting services provided by the Defence Force.
11.93 The DIMIA budget for the operational costs of offshore processing in 2002-2003, including the Australian external territories of Christmas and Cocos Islands as well as Nauru and Manus, is based on 4,500 asylum seekers per annum being accommodated through the arrangements.
11.94 If the 4,500 figure is accepted as reasonable, the budgeted per person cost for offshore processing in 2002-2003 is roughly comparable to onshore processing, when projected onshore savings are included. However that assessment does not include the considerable capital cost of the new Christmas Island facility, or, once again, Defence Force expenditure.
11.95 The new Christmas Island permanent Immigration Reception and Processing Centre will have a capacity of 1,200 and is scheduled for completion in January 2003.[1312] There is also some minor capacity on Cocos Island. Being able to process 4,500 people a year offshore, as indicated in the budget papers, is an objective apparently dependent on both Papua New Guinea agreeing to renew its MOU when it terminates in October 2002, and Nauru remaining satisfied to continue its cooperation, which can be terminated by either party at any time.
11.96 Even if both MOUs continue at the current level, in light of the processing and resettlement times achieved for the first group of just over 1,500 people accommodated at Nauru and Manus, processing the 4,500 per year figure on which the costings are predicated would appear difficult to achieve.
11.97 Of course if the current reduction in boat arrivals is maintained such capacity will not be required. It is perhaps worth noting that in the last decade such numbers of unauthorised boat arrivals have been reached only in 1999-2000 and 2000-2001. It has been far more common over that period for annual figures to be in the hundreds rather than thousands.[1313]
11.98 No unauthorised boat arrivals have been transferred to the mainland for processing since the Pacific Solution arrangements came on stream,[1314] and the objective of blocking access to onshore processing arrangements including judicial review opportunities has been achieved.
11.99 The number of unauthorised boats attempting to reach Australia has declined dramatically, although the effect of the offshore processing arrangements and the new legislative regime in halting the flow of illegal boat arrivals is difficult to isolate from the influence of other factors, including disruption activities, regional anti-smuggling initiatives, the SIEV X disaster, and global developments such as increased border security in the aftermath of September 11, 2001.
11.100 In a recent submission to another Senate inquiry, DIMIA have advised that:
The anti-smuggling regime adopted by Australia in cooperation with other countries in the region has resulted in a virtual cessation of attempts by asylum seekers to enter Australia illegally by boat. The people smuggling rings have been confounded by the disruption and have had to abandon their usual modus operandi to seek alternative methods.[1315]
11.101 There has also been a major reduction in the number of Afghans entering the smuggling ‘pipeline’ in the wake of the fall of the Taliban regime. The exodus from that country has started to reverse with ongoing large scale voluntary repatriation from neighbouring countries, although security concerns remain in some less stable regions and for groups with particular protection vulnerabilities.[1316]
11.102 While deterrence objectives appear to be achieved, albeit at considerable cost, outcomes in terms of achieving durable protection for refugees processed under Pacific Solution arrangements, and a timely resolution for those found not to be so, are less positive.
11.103 Over a year after the Tampa incident, and more than nine months after the last unauthorised arrivals were transported to the islands, less than 400 of the 701 people found to be refugees have been resettled, and eighty one people still await a final decision on their refugee status. A small number of people have returned to their country of origin, or have been resettled without a refugee determination.
11.104 The remainder, whether they have been found to be refugees or not, remain in situations of uncertainty and indeterminate duration.
11.105 Concerns also remain about the impact of the arrangements on the social fabric of the communities where the processing centres have been established, the capacity of the local resource base to support such numbers on Nauru, and Australia’s reputation in the region.
11.106 The so-called Pacific Solution has achieved its objective of preventing on-shore processing of unauthorised boat arrivals. The arrangements ensure that those amongst the arrivals who are found not to be refugees do not have access to lengthy appeal processes, and those who are successful in their claims have no presumed right to resettlement within Australia.
11.107 However, lack of transparency in the implementation of the arrangements, and difficulty in accessing comprehensive costings for some of its aspects, has created an atmosphere of obfuscation quite apart from concerns over the legal and human rights merits of the policy.
11.108 Further, the policy does nothing to address the fundamental issues of the break down in the global response to the refugee problem, although the outcomes have been favoured by an emerging resolution in Afghanistan.
11.109 The uncertain outcomes for those being processed in the centres continues to be a substantial concern. There remains a shortfall in resettlement opportunities for those who have been legitimately found to be refugees. The objective of sharing the burden amongst a range of countries has, with the exception of New Zealand’s generosity, been largely unsuccessful to date which, given the relative insignificance within the international context of the burden this group imposes upon Australia, is not surprising. The future for those not found to meet refugee criteria but who cannot safely return to their countries of origin is even more uncertain.
11.110 It appears likely that the majority of those found to be refugees will need to be resettled in Australia, as evidenced by the recent arrival of refugees from both Manus and Nauru. As the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs commented in a submission to another current Senate inquiry:
...if other countries are unable or unwilling to provide protection against non-refoulement for refugees who have entered Australian territorial waters seeking asylum, Australia is obliged to ensure that convention protection is provided.[1317]
Senator Peter Cook
Chairman
