Old boy, it’s good to see you providing some sound, credible evidence to back up your case. I can see how it would be in immigration officers’ interests to approve refugee claims. This makes perfect sense.

I have also seen the sense of entitlement many Iranians bring with them. This group, in my experience, are most adept at milking the system for what it’s worth. Iranians themselves have also told me this.

But one thing is unclear to me - why would Iranians come by boat? Tehran’s got a huge airport, Iranians do not struggle to get tourist visas to Australia (as Afghans and Sri Lankans do), and there’s a huge Iranian community to offer accommodation and make family visits legitimate.

Why come by boat when they can fly at a fraction of the price?

Dirty Paki Khunt wrote on Jun 22^nd, 2013 at 11:58am:

right. All the while selling arms to the Tamils, providing them with bases on Indian soil and logistical support. I thinkTamil Nadu being a state of India is the giveaway here.

Soren wrote on Jun 23^rd, 2013 at 12:08am:


I concur, old chap. The enemy of our noble demokratic traditions, our proud Western culture; the liberty, reason and benign tolerance and generosity I know you hold so close to your heart, is Sri Lanka.

It has always been the enemy, it will always be the enemy, its very existance is defined by being the enemy - absolutely - eternally - on stilts. Stilts.

What would we do without them, eh?

I do, however, have my doubts about many Sri Lankan refugees. When I went there I met many people who had applied to come to Australia. A few asked my advice on how to get in. 

Asylum seeker 'enhanced screenings' dangerous: former official
7.30
By Hayden Cooper

Updated Mon Jun 10, 2013 9:02pm AEST

A former Immigration Department official has condemned Australia's process of so-called "enhanced screening" of asylum seekers as dangerous and says the department felt pressured by the Prime Minister's office.

Under enhanced screening, asylum seekers can be rejected based on their answers in an initial interview soon after arriving in Australia.

The method has been used to send more than 1,200 asylum seekers straight home, just days after they arrive on boats.

All were Sri Lankans, and the Australian Tamil Congress says some have ended up in prison once they are returned home.

Former Immigration Department official Greg Lake has told the ABC's 7.30 program he fears legitimate refugees have been rejected.

Mr Lake was the operations manager at the Nauru detention centre earlier this year, and he also held management positions at the Christmas Island and Scherger detention centres, before quitting in April.

He says the interviews begin with a simple question: "Why did you come to Australia?".

"And if they say, 'I've run for my life because this government is persecuting me, because I'm a Tamil', for example, that's the kind of thing we'll go and explore with further questions", he said.
Greg Lake Photo: Greg Lake was the operations manager at Nauru Detention Centre before quitting in April. (ABC)

"But if they didn't say anything along those lines ... if the question is asked and nothing is invoked, at times it can be done on one question, which I think is very dangerous, especially given the vulnerability, it's usually done within the first week or so of a person arriving, that's a very volatile time for someone who's just stepped off a boat."

He is concerned some legitimate refugees have been rejected.

"I would never say with 100 per cent confidence yes, but it wouldn't surprise me if we found out later we had [rejected legitimate refugees]," Mr Lake said.

In a statement, the Immigration Department says it rejects any suggestion the enhanced screening process denies asylum seekers an opportunity to demonstrate their protection claims.

But lawyer David Manne, from the Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre, disagrees.

"I have received personally credible evidence that some of these people coming here who have then been summarily expelled under this enhanced screening have raised serious and strong claims for refugee protection," Mr Manne said.
Tamils returned to Sri Lanka beaten, starved: refugee

7.30 spoke to one Sri Lankan man who passed the enhanced screening test.

"Nathan" is now in community detention, but says the interview was stressful.

"We were tired after the long journey and once we landed, when they asked these questions, we were puzzled and worried. Some couldn't answer it properly because they were tired," he said.

Nathan says his brother was rejected and sent home in December.

He says he has been held in Sri Lanka's Negombo prison ever since, along with other Tamil asylum seekers who were sent back by Australia.

"At the moment, 26 Tamil detainees are there, and some have been beaten and they are in different cells. My brother is afraid for his life. He has been beaten, he has been without food for many days," he said.

"His mother came to know only several days later. She can only talk to him from 30 metres away."

Both the Sri Lankan and Australian governments deny that Tamil Sri Lankans are persecuted.

But Nathan says that is not true.

"Still, people are facing rape, torture, and many, many things you know, that's why the Tamil people are leaving from Sri Lanka," he said.

Mr Manne says he is concerned about the issue.

"I mean at the end of the day, this is a very serious matter where many people appear to be being denied due process and are at risk, not only of violation of their basic rights but of serious miscarriages of justice where people could in fact be denied protection here and be sent back to the prospect of real danger such as torture or death," he said.