Australia Unveils Plans to Ban Boat Migrants for Life

Australia has unveiled tough new plans to bar any asylum seekers who try to reach the country by boat from ever being able to enter the country. The lifetime ban on visas would apply even to those travelling as tourists, for business, or who married an Australian, the (BBC) reported.

    Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the move would send "the strongest possible signal" to people-smugglers. The proposed ban is to be put to parliament later this week.     Australia transports asylum seekers who arrive by boat to off-shore processing centers in Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus Island.

    Even if found to be genuine refugees, they are already blocked from being resettled in Australia. They can either return home, be resettled on Manus or Nauru, or go to a third country.

    The new legislation would apply to all those sent to Nauru and Manus from 19 July 2013, including those who have returned home, and anyone who arrives in the future. Children, however, would be exempt. "This is a battle of will between the Australian people, represented by its government, and the criminal gangs of people-smugglers," Turnbull said. 

    "You should not underestimate the scale of the threat. These people-smugglers are the worst criminals imaginable. They have a multibillion-dollar business. We have to be very determined to say no to their criminal plans," he added.

Source: QNA