Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Humphries for the question. Unfortunately, Senator Humphries again wishes to selectively use figures, as has the opposition spokesman, Mr Morrison, which misrepresent the situation in terms of asylum claims. It is also true to say that we have had a reduction in asylum claims from Serbians this year—but I do not put any great store in it. Clearly, people of various nationalities move within their regions seeking asylum. It is the case that since 2006 asylum applications by Afghans in industrialised countries worldwide have increased by 185 per cent. Asylum claims since 2006 by Sri Lankans have increased by 65 per cent.

What happens is that we get our share. The vast majority still go to Europe, but other countries get their share. We have traditionally been a country of destination for Afghans seeking asylum. As the previous government learnt in 1999 to 2001, when there was a large outflow of Afghans, Australia was one of the destination countries they headed for. That flow ceased when the Taliban fell and Australia, along with other countries, was able to return in excess of, I think, three million—certainly a large number of Afghans—to their country because of the fall of the Taliban and better security conditions there.

As Ms Erika Feller, the UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, made clear during her recent visit to Australia, claims that Australian policy changes have led to a rise in arrivals are ‘unhelpful’ and at odds with global trends. She says about the real cause of arrivals:

The instability in places such as Afghanistan and Sri Lanka does impact greatly on the numbers of people moving to and through this region, including Australia.

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