Manus and Nauru do not stop the boats, say asylum seekers in Indonesia
Asylum seekers in Indonesia say they will no longer attempt to reach Australia by boat because the federal government turn-back policy has been so effective. The representatives of asylum seekers say this would not change even if refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island were resettled.
The boat turn-back strategy – a crucial part of the Abbott government’s signature policy Operation Sovereign Borders and implemented by then immigration minister Scott Morrison – is repeatedly cited as the reason why Australia is no longer considered a viable destination.
Asylum seekers say the message that Australia ‘‘is closed’’ has also been successfully reinforced by an extensive advertising campaign. And no one is prepared to spend the thousands of dollars to buy passage on a dangerous boat when it will be turned back.
Domestically, the fate of refugees on Nauru and Manus Island continues to play into political and humanitarian concerns.
A 12-year-old had to be medically evacuated from Nauru to Brisbane last week after refusing to eat for 20 days. Another seriously ill child has reportedly been ordered off Nauru by an Australian court on Friday.
Turn-backs … That’s the reason, not keeping people in offshore detention. – Mozhgan Moarefizadeh, an Iranian refugee and advocate.
