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National |
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7:09 pm AEST
February 27 2000 |
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40 more boatpeople sent back to China |
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AAP -- Another 40 Chinese boat people were sent back
to China this weekend as part of a successful program of returning
illegal arrivals, Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock said
today.
He said the government had achieved outstanding
results in returning boat people who had arrived illegally from
China.
"The removal of another 40 boat people this weekend
demonstrates the government's commitment to removing people who have
no right to remain in Australia," Mr Ruddock said in a
statement.
"In the past four years, 1,452 boat people have
arrived illegally from China and 1,447 of those have been returned
home.
"These returns underscore the strong relationship and
cooperation that exists between the Australian and Chinese
governments and shows the futility of undertaking such a perilous
journey.
"It also shows a joint commitment in the crackdown
on the people smuggling trade."
Mr Ruddock said these returns
should send a clear message that if people believed lies peddled by
people smugglers they would pay the price when they were sent home
to a possible lifetime of debt.
He said people smugglers now
faced up to 20 years' jail and fines of up to
$220,000.
Unauthorised arrivals who proved their refugee
status would now be granted only a three-year temporary protection
visa instead of permanent residence.
Immigration and Customs
officers now had the power to board and detain boats in
international waters if the boats were suspected of being involved
in people smuggling. |
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