AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION
ISLAMABAD
Press Release
DRAMATIC INCREASE IN REJECTION OF AFGHAN ASYLUM CLAIMS BY AUSTRALIA
The Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has warned Afghans who might be considering attempting the journey to Australia that the number of asylum claims rejected by Australia has increased dramatically.
Although there was a time when large numbers of Afghan asylum seekers were granted refugee status, since April this year there have more than 500 primary refusal decisions for Afghans.
During the past month the primary refusal rate has exceeded 70 per cent.
The Prime Minister said that “if people are not found to be refugees, I am committed to sending them home”.
7 July 2010
Contact: James McGarry, ph. 835 5500