Asylum Review Decisions on Nauru and Manus
Media Release - DPS 72/2002
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) announced today that in the week commencing 13 September 2002, 159 asylum seekers on Nauru and 30 asylum seekers on Manus, received the outcome of the review of the assessment of their claims for refugee status.
Of the Australian caseload, 138 asylum seekers (130 Afghans and 8 Iraqis) were found at review not to be refugees and 44 asylum seekers (22 Afghans, 19 Iraqis and 3 others) were found to be refugees.
Of the asylum seekers being processed by UNHCR, six Iraqis were found at review to be refugees and one was found not to be a refugee.
"Processing of remaining review cases on Nauru and Manus is continuing and these decisions are expected to be handed down shortly," the spokesperson said.
Three Afghan asylum seekers on Nauru received a favourable outcome of their initial assessment for refugee status.
"All asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus have now received the outcome of their initial refugee status assessment," a departmental spokesperson said.
People on Nauru and Manus who have been found not to be refugees are able to apply for the Australian Government's reintegration package should they wish to return voluntarily. The package, announced in May, includes cash assistance of $AUD2000 per individual adult or child or up to $AUD10,000 per family unit comprising a husband, wife and dependent children.
Under the Refugees Convention, refugee status is conferred where there is a current or foreseeable need for protection. People who are not in need of protection will be expected to return to their country of origin as soon as circumstances permit.
18 September 2002
Attachment: Processing Status of Refugee assessments (37KB PDF file)
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