Afghans in Brisbane from Nauru

Letter to the Editor - The Australian
7 October 2003

Dear Sir/Madam

During the intense media scrutiny of the recent arrival in Brisbane of the twenty-one Afghans from Nauru, which was covered in your article (Refugees warned off media contact 06/10/03), the only advice the Department offered the group was that they were under no obligation to speak to the media.

This ensured that they were aware of their right to privacy.

As your article stated, the cases of these people are decided on the basis of whether or not they are refugees, and not whether they have spoken to the media.

Stewart Foster
Director
Public Affairs
DIMIA