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National |
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8:05 pm AEST
April 28 2000 |
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Govt rules out scrapping controversial visa |
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AAP -- The federal government today ruled out
scrapping its new temporary three-year visa for refugees who arrived
illegally, despite pressure from state and territory
ministers.
Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock said the
government was committed to the visa which had been brought in to
combat the growing people-smuggling trade.
He also rejected
claims from the premiers of South Australia, Western Australia and
Queensland that the Commonwealth was trying to shift the burden of
providing services to refugees onto the states.
"I want to
make very clear that we will not suspend this visa policy," Mr
Ruddock said after a ministerial council meeting on immigration in
New Zealand.
"That would only encourage illegal entrants and
criminals and we will not back away from measures designed to act as
a strong disincentive to illegal travel."
The government was
committed to fighting the crime of people- trafficking which had
resulted in more than 3,600 boat people arriving in the past 10
months, he said.
Mr Ruddock said the government would meet
international obligations in providing basic services to temporary
protection visa (TPV) holders who arrived unlawfully.
They
would be entitled to work, and if they met strict criteria would be
eligible for some government assistance known as the special
benefit, rent assistance and family allowance.
They would
also be covered by Medicare.
But they would not be given the
resettlement services afforded to other refugees who applied for
protection under the humanitarian program.
Mr Ruddock said
there was no expectation the states would provide those services and
he was disappointed some states had indicated they would offer help
to the refugees.
"I cannot understand why they would provide
the additional services to the holders of TPVs and disadvantage
other needy people in their community," he said.
"It
undermines the strong signal the Commonwealth is sending to people
traffickers and people who would engage their
services."
Federal opposition immigration spokesman Con
Sciacca has attacked the government for not providing
English-language training, as the refugees would have little hope of
getting a job. |
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