Aust. Immigration Decision on Indonesian Arrivals

Decision on Indonesian Arrivals

The Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs has granted temporary visas to 42 Indonesians from Papua province in Indonesia who arrived in Australia in January, the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Amanda Vanstone, announced today.

‘Decisions on visa claims are made by individual decision-makers in my department, in accordance with international legal obligations and Australian domestic law and on the basis of claims made by individual applicants,’ the Minister said.

‘The 42 claimants have been granted temporary protection visas (TPV) and will be relocated to Melbourne.

‘They will have access to the same services as other TPV holders.

‘These people have completed their medical and character checks and will be moved into the community.’

A decision is yet to be made on a visa application from the remaining member of the group, as there are further case-specific issues to be pursued.

The 43 occupants of an outrigger canoe were located on the Cape York Peninsula, near Weipa, on 18 January, 2006.

They were transferred to the Christmas Island Immigration Reception and Processing Centre for the interview and visa application process, in line with long-standing government policy for unauthorised boat arrivals.

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