Refugees Arrive In Australia From Manus
Media Release - DPS 77/2002
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs has confirmed that 49 refugees from the immigration processing centre on Manus arrived in Australia today.
The arrival is in line with the Australian Government's commitment to take its fair share of people who are residing in the off-shore processing centres in Nauru and Papua New Guinea and who are found to be refugees.
The group comprising 18 adult men, 12 adult women and 19 children arrived in Sydney. Some will remain in New South Wales, while others will transit to Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
All members of the group have family members in Australia.
"The resettlement of further refugees from the offshore processing centres is under consideration by the Department and other countries," a departmental spokesperson said.
"These arrivals mean 200 people have now been resettled in Australia from the offshore processing centres."
A number of countries have indicated a willingness to consider cases for resettlement. New Zealand has already resettled 194 people from Nauru and Papua New Guinea and eight people have been transferred to Sweden.
Further movements to Australia and other countries are expected over the next few months.
All 49 refugees have been granted three-year temporary protection visas.
"This visa is available to people who have abandoned or by-passed effective protection in a country of first asylum and travelled to another country to seek a preferred migration option," the spokesperson said.
There are currently 1062 people in off-shore processing centres, comprising 960 on Nauru and 102 on Manus.
1 October 2002
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