A compassionate solution to boat people…

Letter to the Editor - published Dec 12
Sydney Morning Herald

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am pleased to see that Peter Mares ("A compassionate solution to boat people is not weakness" SMH 7 Dec) acknowledges a need for mandatory detention to carry out health, identity and character checks.

Releasing people into the community while their claims are assessed is not a viable option, as overseas experience demonstrates.

In the US, for example, there are media reports that authorities do not know the whereabouts of 314,000 foreigners ordered to be deported.

Also, there are an estimated 8 million visa overstayers living illegally in the community.

In the UK, reports estimate that 100,000 unlawful arrivals have disappeared into the community in recent years.

The UK Government is introducing new measures to keep track of people, including the establishment of detention centres.

Australia recognises that part of the solution to the illegal people trade lies at the source.

That is why the Australian Government is contributing $29 million over four years to address the humanitarian needs of displaced Iraqis and Afghans both in countries of origin as well as in the Middle East and South West Asia.

We are working with origin countries to support a focus on infrastructure development and sustainable returns.

In addition, we are cooperating with a number of countries to disrupt people smugglers including Cambodia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Iran, Jordan, Pakistan and Syria.

Stewart Foster
Director, Public Affairs
DIMIA
11 December 2001