Asylum seekers are reportedly being secretly screened at sea via video link, potentially breaching international law.

One Sri Lankan naval official has confirmed that some hopeful refugees will be transferred into Sri Lankan custody at sea after being asked just four basic questions, although another Sri Lankan official denied the procedure.

Fairfax Media reports the asylum seekers are being asked their name, country of origin, where they had come from and why they had left before their claim for asylum is considered, but lawyer Julian Burnside says Australia could be guilty of refoulement.

Non-refoulement is a key facet of refugee law, regarding protection of refugees from being returned to areas where their lives or freedoms could be threatened.

"It is very clear the department is screening people to get them out as fast as possible and not with a view to assess whether they are refugees," Mr Burnside said.

Director of Human Rights Watch Elaine Pearson also questioned the practice, calling it "not only highly disturbing, but probably unlawful".

Christmas Island local councillor Gordon Thomson on Wednesday called on the federal government to confirm the accuracy of reports that asylum seekers had been transferred from Australian custody.

"It's a very, very, very disturbing story, if it's true," he told AAP.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/nsw/a/24374328/australia-assessing-refugees-at-sea/

Stop the lies Morriscum!

Silence on missing asylum seeker boat a disgrace to the nation


"Anyone who troubles to look behind the political rhetoric can identify Morrison’s lies."

The boat last made contact with Australia by phone on June 28 at about 10am. At that time, the boat was 175 nautical miles from Christmas Island.

That same Saturday, Labor MP Alannah MacTiernan was on Christmas Island. She said immigration staff on Christmas Island were “on standby waiting for instructions”. She said she had been told two boats had been intercepted. She told the ABC: “They're saying that two boats have been intercepted and the ship on which they're being loaded is in Christmas Island waters.”

That same day Scott Morrison refused to confirm the boats’ existence despite the fact that people in Australia had spoken to people on board. He said that there were no “significant incidents at sea” to report.


The known facts suggest several Tamil refugees reached the waters off Christmas Island last weekend. The facts make it apparent they included several children, and it is easy to infer they would have been distressed: it is a long and uncomfortable journey. They were seeking asylum from the Rajapaksa government in Sri Lanka, which has an appalling record of mistreating Tamils who had (or may have had) any connection with the Tamil Tigers.

From this point on, the facts are more difficult to pin down.


Morrison officially calls boat people “illegal” in an attempt to convey the impression that they are criminals, when in fact they commit no offence at all by coming here as they do.


And whatever the facts turn out to be, Morrison has treated the Australian public with contempt. The public have a legitimate interest in knowing what is being done, in our name, to people who have done nothing worse than ask for our help. Morrison either knows the fate of the refugees or he does not.  If he does, he should tell us: either that they have been rescued or helped, or that they have been sent to Sri Lanka.  The alternative is that he does not know, in which case he should be sacked for incompetence.

We should no longer be treated as if we do not care about the fate of other human beings.

Read more:

http://www.smh.com.au/comment/silence-on-missing-asylum-seeker-boat-a-disgrace-t...

Swagman wrote on Jul 3^rd, 2014 at 9:29am:



Undermining the global approach to refugees so causing even more deaths and more opportunity for persecution. How is that a good thing?

Sprintcyclist wrote on Jul 3^rd, 2014 at 9:38am:


It's a blight on our record - if I felt any responsbility for the policy I'd be ashamed.

A government willing to treat people they way they have for political ends is dangerous and heartless.

If I believed in people deserving things, I'd say anyone who supports this policy deserves to become a refugee and have to deal with the situation first hand.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Jul 3^rd, 2014 at 9:38am:

Sending people to their death is not a victory.

We could always offer Sri Lank billions of dollars to stop the torture, better idea, yes?

Swagman wrote on Jul 3^rd, 2014 at 10:26am:


He is also likely sending people to their deaths.

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Jul 3^rd, 2014 at 9:25am:

Clever spin but Morrison  is correct. Just because no offence is committed does not make the fact of the entry legal, it is still an illegal act to enter without a valid visa. You and the author are under the illusion that an illegal act must have a penalty, this is incorrect.

Labor and Greens concerned by 'shifting goal posts'

Labor is seeking a briefing form the Immigration Department on the legislation.

A spokesperson for Labor's immigration spokesman Richard Marles says the Opposition would be "extremely concerned if the Government attempts to use complex legislation to sneak through shifting the goal posts on what determines refugee status".

Greens immigration spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young says the proposed changes misunderstand the actions of asylum seekers.

"Forcing them to have to prove that they have over 50 per cent chance of people killed or tortured, otherwise they will be sent home, they won't be given protection," she said.

"That is incredibly ideological and grubby dog whistling. This is about allowing the Government to deport more refugees back home to danger."

Senator Hanson-Young says the bill will result in more asylum seekers lives being put at risk.

"This is a mean, dangerous law from the Government," she said.

"If this was not so serious, if it was not about life or death, it would actually be a joke."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-25/morrison-pushes-for-asylum-seeker-processi...