Asylum Decisions Handed Down on Nauru and Manus
Media Release - DPS 20/2002
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) announced today some 439 asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island will receive decisions on their asylum claims this week.
This represents around 30 per cent of the asylum seeker groups on Manus and Nauru.
The decisions mainly relate to Iraqis who comprise around 44 per cent of the total.
Of the decisions to be handed down, some 323 are being handed down on Nauru of which 274 are Iraqis and 7 are Afghans with the remainder being other nationalities. For Manus, 116 decisions are being handed down - 112 of these are for Iraqis.
Some 1,074 people on Nauru and Manus Island are still having their claims processed. Further decisions on these should occur over the next few weeks and months.
Processing has been carried out by both the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and the Australian Government on Nauru and the Australian Government on Manus.
The first set of DIMIA decisions cover 78 persons on Nauru, of whom 60 Iraqis have been found to be refugees subject to satisfactory completion of character checking. Eighteen persons have been found not to be refugees on Nauru, of whom 11 are Iraqis. Australian decisions on Manus Island cover 116 people of whom 101 Iraqis and 3 persons of other nationalities have been found to be refugees subject to satisfactory completion of character checking. Twelve Iraqis on Manus Island have been found not to be refugees.
A further 157 Iraqi asylum seekers from the first groups processed by DIMIA on Nauru and Manus Island are still to receive assessments. Processing of their claims is well advanced, but finalisation of these cases is awaiting further country information. As a result, the current decision numbers cannot be taken as any indication of the likely eventual approval and refusal rates for this nationality.
The asylum seekers on Manus and Nauru may opt at any time to return home voluntarily.
Most Afghan asylum seekers currently on Nauru will be invited to submit new information about their claims in light of the changed situation in Afghanistan.
Asylum seekers have been provided with detailed information sessions covering the decision process, the implications of the decisions and procedures for resettlement or review of decisions once they occur.
It is important to note that being found to be a refugee does not give a person a right to select their preferred country of protection and that people may not necessarily be resettled in Australia.
While settlement opportunities are being sought the refugees will continue to be provided with support, including accommodation, food, clothing and medical care.
Those who are found not to be refugees will be provided with detailed advice about the reasons for the decision and have an opportunity to seek a review of that decision.
Those who do not seek a review or those who receive the same decision after review are expected, and will be assisted, to leave the country as soon as circumstances permit.
8 April 2002
For more information contact DIMIA Public Affairs,
02 6264 2244
(AH) 0419 442 000