Herald Sun – UNHCR refugee guidelines could deny asylum claims in Australia
THE United Nations is reviewing its refugee guidelines for Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in a move that could see the Federal Government deny protection claims for the majority of asylum seekers heading to Australia.
Radio Australia News – Tamil detainees sent back as situation improves
Australian Immigration Minister Chris Evans says the government is sending more Tamil asylum seekers back to their country as the situation improves in Sri Lanka.
The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) is looking at changing its international protection guidelines for Sri Lankan and Afghan asylum seekers as those countries become safer.
The changes would pave the way for more detainees in Australia’s Christmas Island holding camps to be returned to their country.
Senator Evans says conditions in Sri Lanka are more positive.
He said: “What we will do is look at both the UN information but also other information.
“The UNHCR is not the only source. We have state department and we have other advice.
“It is true that we have recently provided more advice to our decision-makers about the improvement of the situation in Sri Lanka.”


