Asylum seekers in Indonesia waiting for ‘boat routes’ to reopen, government told

ASYLUM seekers stuck in Indonesia are waiting for people-smuggling “boat routes” to reopen so they can set out on the dangerous trip to Australia, the government has been told.

And the risk of death at sea is not a deterrent for many, a report for the Department of Immigration and Border Protection has revealed.

The report, handed to the government this month, confirmed border protection policy and fears of landing in Nauru or on Manus Island were deterring many asylum seekers from making the perilous boat journey.

However it also revealed some were waiting for government policy to change and people-smuggling to resume.

“For a large number of interviewees, learning of the detail of Australian government policy, including the sea route migration pathway being ‘closed’, the arrangements to transfer boat arrivals to regional processing centres, and immigration detention on Nauru and Manus Island, acted as deterrents,” the report said.

“Some respondents indicated they were waiting for the boat route to ‘open’ again.”

Researchers were sent to Indonesia to interview asylum seekers from Iran and Afghanistan about their experiences and plans.

One Afghan told researchers they expected the “path” to Australia would reopen.

“The people are too exhausted here, too tired here and if the way is opened, if we can go by boat, if it happens in the future, people will go, people will go, even if it costs their life,” the asylum seeker said.

But the perception all asylum seekers in Indonesia intended to make Australia their destination was challenged, with 40 per cent claiming no plans to go to Australia.

“Australia was not always a clear choice of destination,” the report said.

“The primary motivation was to flee to a place of safety.”

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/asylum-seekers-in-indonesia-waiting-fo...

yeah ... i'm sure smugglers are lining up to tell the libs their plans 

This is terrible news. If we vote Labor, a thousand refugees or so will come to Australia without a visa by boat - instead of flying in as they do now.

No, the next erection will be a referendum on stopping the boats. Thanks, Mr Abbott, for a job well done.

" the primary motivation is to flee to a place of safety'' yet you Armchair would have us believe they are "country shoppers'' what do you think Armchair?

Armchair_Politician wrote on Mar 17^th, 2016 at 9:10am:


He did stop them, its his policy 

Its time wrote on Mar 17^th, 2016 at 9:11am:


Buzzzzzzzzzzz. Wrong! Morrison stopped them within three months of taking over. Labor was in office for six years and the boats only stopped AFTER they left office. Labor let in 50,000 people on over 750 boats. They did not stop the boats, the Coalition did. That's a fact, the undeniable truth just as the sun rises in the East and sets in the West.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Mar 17^th, 2016 at 9:13am:


yes but your an idiot so your expectations are very different from everyone else's.

Its time wrote on Mar 17^th, 2016 at 9:20am: