Recognising the Papuan debacle, 3/4/06
Letter to the Editor - Byron Shire Echo
03 March 2006
Dear Sir/Madam
Mungo MacCallum (Recognising the Papuan debacle, 3/4/06) makes some excellent points, including that the department has acted with integrity in granting temporary protections visas (TPVs) to a group of asylum seekers from the Indonesian province of Papua.
However, the article incorrectly stated that only 10 visas had been granted.
The group of 43 arrived in Australia by boat in January and in fact 42 have been granted temporary protection visas. The 43rd application is still being considered by the department, which is treating the matter as a high priority.
Sandi Logan
National Communications Manager,
Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs