Lexi Webster
Australia has a history of people seeking asylum by arriving in the country by boat. In 2013, the Australian government implemented Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB), a border protection operation led by the Australian Border Force, to stop maritime arrivals of asylum seekers. Since then, there has been a significant decline in the number of boats arriving in Australia, with the government reporting zero successful boat arrivals in 2014. However, critics argue that the decline is due to factors such as turnback and takeback policies rather than offshore processing. Australia's approach to asylum seekers has been controversial, with reports of refugees being kept in a state of limbo and denied permanent protection due to their mode of arrival. The country's visa system and strict border controls also make it challenging for asylum seekers to enter by plane, contributing to the issue of boat arrivals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB) | Border protection operation led by the Australian Border Force |
| Aim | Stopping maritime arrivals of asylum seekers to Australia |
| Date of commencement | 18 September 2013 |
| Current Commander | Rear Admiral Brett Sonter |
| Reduction in maritime arrivals | 90% reduction in November 2013 compared to November 2012 |
| Number of asylum seekers in Australia | Almost 130,000 |
| Number of asylum seekers associated with legacy boat arrival caseload | More than 31,000 |
| Number of asylum seekers with temporary protection | More than 19,000 |
| Number of asylum seekers refused protection | 10,000 |
| Number of babies born to people who came by boat | Data available from 2009 |
| Number of people arriving by boat | Significantly lower than in previous years |
| Peak periods for people arriving by boat | 1999-2002 and 2009-2014 |
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What You'll Learn
Operation Sovereign Borders
The operation is organised as three operational task groups: Detection, Interception and Transfer Task Group, Disruption and Deterrence Task Group, and Offshore Detention and Returns Task Group. The Abbott government claimed a ninety per cent reduction in maritime arrivals of asylum seekers. There were 207 in November 2013, compared to 2,629 in November 2012.
The “buy-the-boats" plan was widely ridiculed, with fact-checking group PolitiFact Australia calling the proposal "ridiculous". Lieutenant General Campbell told a Senate Estimates committee that, two months into the OSB program, no boats had been purchased because Indonesia did not support the idea. The government runs a "communication campaign to counter people smuggling" with advertisements in multiple languages, targeting various forms of media across Australia.
The appointed ministers, initially Scott Morrison and subsequently Peter Dutton, refused to release information on asylum seeker boat arrivals as they occurred. On 10 July 2014, Morrison stated that the secrecy policy was put in place by Lieutenant General Campbell, which had been rigorously implemented by ministers, their advisers, and various government departments. On 23 August 2013, during the election campaign, the Coalition announced a key component of Operation Sovereign Borders called the Regional Deterrence Framework. Budgeted at A$420 million, the RDF aimed to engage with other countries in the region, particularly Indonesia, to prevent asylum seeker vessels from leaving for Australia.
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Australia's universal visa system
Australia has a universal visa system, which means that every non-citizen in the country must have a visa, either through an application or one granted automatically by law. This system was introduced in 1994 and has been maintained since. The visa policy of Australia outlines the requirements that a foreign national must meet to obtain a visa to travel, enter, and remain in the country. A visa can also grant the holder certain privileges, such as the right to work or study.
The universal visa system has made it difficult for people from certain countries, especially those with a high number of refugees, to enter Australia by plane with a valid visa. This has resulted in an increase in the number of people seeking asylum by boat. Australia's response to this has been controversial, with the government implementing Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB) in 2013, led by the Australian Border Force. OSB has a "zero tolerance" posture towards "Illegal Maritime Arrivals" and mandates the detention of asylum seekers in offshore facilities.
The OSB has been successful in reducing the number of maritime arrivals, with the government claiming a 90% reduction in 2013. However, this has led to a cohort of refugees stuck in limbo within Australia. Many of these refugees have been found to be in need of protection but are denied permanent protection because they arrived by boat. They are instead given temporary protection visas, which can lead to a state of perpetual uncertainty and negatively impact their mental health.
The processing of asylum claims has also been criticized as inefficient, with some people waiting years for their first interview. The former immigration official Shaun Hanns has described the process as "a waste of taxpayer money that does not impact the outcome in any meaningful way." Australia's approach to asylum seekers has been to move them offshore and out of sight, which has resulted in a system that vilifies and scapegoats those seeking refuge.
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Refugees in limbo
Australia has historically been viewed as a leader in refugee resettlement, with more than 870,000 refugees resettled since World War II. However, the country has also been criticized for its treatment of asylum seekers, particularly those arriving by boat. The Australian government's Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB) aims to stop maritime arrivals of asylum seekers through a zero tolerance approach and mandatory detention in offshore facilities. This has resulted in a significant decrease in boat arrivals since 2014.
While the Australian government has successfully reduced the number of boat arrivals, its policies have created a cohort of refugees stuck in limbo. As of 2022, there were almost 130,000 asylum seekers in Australia, with more than 31,000 associated with the legacy boat arrival caseload. Many of these individuals have been waiting for years to have their asylum claims processed, with some still waiting for their first interview. The uncertainty and indefinite nature of their situation have taken a toll on their mental health, with reports of suicide, self-harm, and deteriorating mental health.
The Australian government's approach to asylum seekers arriving by boat stands in contrast to its treatment of those arriving by plane. Between 2011 and 2012, asylum seekers arriving by boat outnumbered those arriving by plane for the first time. Since then, the government has implemented measures such as OSB to deter maritime arrivals. However, it is important to note that people seek asylum by boat for various reasons, including strict border controls that make it difficult to enter Australia by plane with a valid visa.
The Australian government's response to asylum seekers has been a contentious issue, with critics arguing that its policies are inhumane and break people. The government's focus on "stopping the boats" has resulted in a system that denies the humanity and individual identities of refugees, referring to them by numbers instead of names. The processing of asylum claims has been criticized as inefficient and expeditious, with a lack of resources to handle the volume of applications.
The situation of refugees in limbo in Australia highlights the complexities of the global refugee crisis. While Australia has taken steps to reduce maritime arrivals, it has struggled to provide humane and timely solutions for those who have already reached its shores. The dichotomy between Australia's history as a leader in refugee resettlement and its current challenges in asylum seeker processing underscores the need for comprehensive and compassionate approaches to address the needs of those seeking refuge.
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The 'turnback' and 'takeback' policies
Australia has implemented strict border protection operations, such as Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB), to prevent maritime arrivals of asylum seekers. The OSB, led by the Australian Border Force, commenced in September 2013 after the election of the Abbott government. The operation has adopted a "zero tolerance" stance towards "Illegal Maritime Arrivals", a term that replaced the previous government's "Irregular Maritime Arrivals".
The turnback and takeback policies are key components of Australia's border protection operations. The turnback policy involves the Australian military escorting small boats to the edge of its territorial waters, effectively removing unauthorised maritime arrivals from Australian waters. The first turnbacks, led by the Abbott Government, began on December 17, 2013, and have since been defined by Operation Sovereign Borders as "the safe removal of vessels from Australian waters, with passengers and crew returned to their countries of departure".
The takeback policy, on the other hand, involves Australian authorities working with other nations to return individuals who have reached Australian shores. This policy is also referred to as a "transfer (often at sea) of passengers from one sovereign authority to another". The Australian government has worked with countries such as Papua New Guinea and Nauru to implement these takebacks.
The implementation of these policies has been controversial. While some sources suggest that the turnback and takeback policies have contributed to a significant decline in the number of maritime arrivals, the causal relationship is not entirely clear. The Australian government has also been criticised for its treatment of asylum seekers, with many individuals being kept in a state of limbo and uncertainty, facing lengthy waits for interviews and decisions on their claims.
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Mandatory detention
Australia's mandatory detention policy for asylum seekers was established by the Keating government's Migration Reform Act 1992, which came into operation on 1 September 1994. The policy mandates that asylum seekers are automatically detained while they "undergo an assessment process, including security and health checks, to establish if they have a legitimate reason for staying in Australia".
The mandatory detention policy was introduced to "support the integrity of Australia's immigration program" and "management of Australian borders". It also serves to distinguish between those who have submitted themselves to offshore entry processes before arrival and those who have not. The policy has been criticised by human rights groups and has been the subject of protests both within and outside detention centres.
The Pacific Solution, enacted by the Howard government in 2001, reinforced the practice of mandatory detention by providing for the indefinite detention of asylum seekers. Under this policy, many islands were removed from the Australian migration zone, and asylum seekers were transferred to third countries to determine their refugee status, specifically detention camps on small Pacific Ocean island nations.
The Migration Amendment Act 1992 imposed a 273-day limit on detention but disallowed judicial review. The Migration Reform Act 1992, which came into operation in 1994, broadened the application of mandatory detention to all without a valid visa and removed the 273-day detention limit. It also introduced detention charges, making unlawful non-citizens liable for the costs of their immigration detention.
In 2013, the Abbott government implemented Operation Sovereign Borders, a border protection operation led by the Australian Border Force. The operation aimed to prevent maritime arrivals of asylum seekers to Australia through a zero tolerance approach, in conjunction with mandatory detention in offshore detention facilities.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, boats are still coming to Australia. In 2022, there were almost 130,000 asylum seekers living in Australia, with more than 31,000 associated with the legacy boat arrival caseload.
The legacy caseload refers to refugees who arrived in Australia between 12 August 2013 and 1 January 2014. They are called the "legacy caseload" because they are stuck in limbo, denied permanent protection because they arrived by boat.
Australia has a history of offshore processing of asylum seekers, which dates back to the 1960s. In 2013, the Australian government implemented Operation Sovereign Borders, a border protection operation led by the Australian Border Force, aimed at stopping maritime arrivals of asylum seekers.
It depends on how success is measured. The number of people arriving by boat is significantly lower than it was before Operation Sovereign Borders was introduced. However, critics argue that other factors, such as the "'turnback' and 'takeback' policies, are more closely correlated with the fall in boat arrivals.
The "turnback" policy refers to the practice of intercepting and returning asylum seeker boats to their country of departure.
