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{{Short description|Australian asylum policy from 2001}}
The '''Pacific Solution''' was the name given to the ] policy of transporting ] to detention camps on small island nations in the ], rather than allowing them to land on the ] mainland.
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
The Pacific Solution is comprised of three central strategies. Firstly, thousands of islands were controversially excised from ] or Australian territory. Secondly, the ] commenced ] to interdict vessels containing asylum seekers. Finally, these asylum seekers were removed to third countries in order to determine their refugee status. There were a number of pieces of legislation supporting this policy. The policy was developed in response to the 2001 ] and was implemented by then Australian Immigration Minister ].
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2015}}


]
Asylum seekers were intercepted at sea while sailing from ] and moved using Australian naval vessels. Detention camps were set up on ], ] in ], and on the tiny island nation of ]. Some were also accepted for processing by ]. Most of the asylum seekers came from ] (largely of the ]), ] (fleeing ]), ], ], and ].
{{John Howard sidebar}}


The '''Pacific Solution''' is the name given to the ]'s policy of transporting ]s to detention centres on island nations in the ], rather than allowing them to land on the Australian mainland. Initially implemented from 2001 to 2007, it had bipartisan support from the ] and ] at the time. The Pacific Solution consisted of three central strategies:
All costs associated with running the centres and processing the asylum applications were met by Australia.
*Thousands of islands were excised from the ] and Australian territory;
*The ] commenced ] to intercept vessels carrying asylum seekers (]s);
*The asylum seekers were removed to ] and ], ], while their refugee status was determined.
A number of pieces of legislation enabled this policy. The policy was developed by the ] in response to the ] in August 2001 and the ],<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url = http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/2012-2013/PacificSolution#_Toc334509636|title = The 'Pacific Solution' revisited: a statistical guide to the asylum seeker caseloads on Nauru and Manus Island|date = 4 September 2012|access-date = 25 July 2013|last = Philips|first = Janet|publisher = ]|archive-date = 14 August 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200814123059/https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/2012-2013/PacificSolution#_Toc334509636|url-status = live}}</ref> and was implemented by Immigration Minister ] on 28 September before the ] of 24 November.


The policy was largely dismantled in 2008 by the ] following the election of the Labor Party; ], the ] described it as "a cynical, costly and ultimately unsuccessful exercise".<ref name="smh">{{cite news|title=Flight from Nauru ends Pacific Solution|url=http://news.smh.com.au/national/flight-from-nauru-ends-pacific-solution-20080208-1qww.html|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=8 February 2008|access-date=26 August 2013|archive-date=6 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606041705/http://news.smh.com.au/national/flight-from-nauru-ends-pacific-solution-20080208-1qww.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Criticism of the Pacific Solution==
The policy received criticism from a number of areas, with ], refugee rights groups and other ] claiming that Australia was failing to meet its international obligations. The ad-hoc nature in which the policy evolved was also criticised, as it resulted in people being moved to Manus Island and Nauru before facilities were ready.


In August 2012, the succeeding ] (Labor) introduced a similar policy, reopening the Nauru and Manus detention centres for offshore processing.<ref>{{cite news|title=Govt embraces Pacific Solution measures|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/labor-considers-reopening-nauru/story-fn3dxiwe-1226448896536|access-date=17 June 2013|newspaper=The Australian|date=13 August 2012|archive-date=13 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813192655/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/labor-considers-reopening-nauru/story-fn3dxiwe-1226448896536|url-status=live}}</ref>
As of May 29, 2005, 1,229 asylum seekers had been processed on Nauru. Most of those detained were eventually found to be legitimate refugees, sometimes after more than three years in detention. As of October 15, 2005 all but two remaining asylum seekers had been transferred to mainland Australia with the majority of these entering the community with temporary protection visas. While those two were eventually resettled, one to Australia and one to a Scandinavian country, additional groups of ] and ] refugees were brought to the island in 2006 and 2007.


On 19 July 2013, newly returned Prime Minister ], during his ], announced that "asylum seekers who come here by boat without a visa will never be settled in Australia",<ref name="smi">{{cite news|title=Kevin Rudd to send asylum seekers who arrive by boat to Papua New Guinea|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/kevin-rudd-to-send-asylum-seekers-who-arrive-by-boat-to-papua-new-guinea-20130719-2q9fa.html|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=19 July 2013|access-date=26 August 2013|archive-date=31 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031075513/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/kevin-rudd-to-send-asylum-seekers-who-arrive-by-boat-to-papua-new-guinea-20130719-2q9fa.html|url-status=live}}</ref> striking a Regional Resettlement Arrangement between Australia and Papua New Guinea,<ref name="reg">{{cite web |url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/library/prspub/5P1X6/upload_binary/5P1X6.pdf |title=Regional resettlement arrangement between Australia and Papua New Guinea |publisher=Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |access-date=26 August 2013 |archive-date=14 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814145603/https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/library/prspub/5P1X6/upload_binary/5P1X6.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> colloquially known as the '''PNG Solution''', to divert all "unauthorised maritime arrivals" to mandatory detention on ] with no possibility of attaining Australian residency.<ref name="imm">{{cite web|title=Regional Resettlement Arrangements|url=http://www.immi.gov.au/visas/humanitarian/novisa/byboatnovisa.pdf|publisher=Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship|access-date=26 August 2013|archive-date=9 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009194246/http://www.immi.gov.au/visas/humanitarian/novisa/byboatnovisa.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The cost of the Pacific Solution was over $15.5 million ] in 2003/2004, taken from the AusAID budget of $69.9 million.


The ] policy took over from the Pacific Solution after the ], won by the ]. It commenced on 18 September 2013 under the new ].<ref name=policy>{{cite web|author=Liberal Party of Australia & The Nationals|title=The Coalition's Operation Sovereign Borders Policy|url=http://lpaweb-static.s3.amazonaws.com/Policies/OperationSovereignBorders_Policy.pdf|access-date=27 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303211828/http://lpaweb-static.s3.amazonaws.com/Policies/OperationSovereignBorders_Policy.pdf|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 31 March 2019, Operation Sovereign Borders reported that there were no people held in the detention centre on Nauru, which had been closed, and that the Manus centre had been officially closed on 31 October 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsroom.abf.gov.au/releases/operation-sovereign-borders-monthly-update-march-2019|title=Operation Sovereign Borders monthly update: March 2019 - Australian Border Force Newsroom|website=newsroom.abf.gov.au|access-date=2019-05-04|archive-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814123127/https://newsroom.abf.gov.au/releases/operation-sovereign-borders-monthly-update-march-2019|url-status=live}}</ref> However, on 30 September 2019 the total number of asylum seekers still in PNG and Nauru was 562 (separate numbers were not published), being housed in alternative accommodation.<ref name=senateoct19>{{cite web|url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/committees/estimate/48ea734a-e5f8-4bc6-813e-1f22b32a238a/toc_pdf/Legal%20and%20Constitutional%20Affairs%20Legislation%20Committee_2019_10_21_7290_Official.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22committees/estimate/48ea734a-e5f8-4bc6-813e-1f22b32a238a/0000%22|page=76|title=Estimates|author=Australian Government. Senate. Legal And Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee|date=21 October 2019|quote=Proof Committee Hansard|access-date=27 April 2020|journal=|archive-date=27 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200427035326/https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/committees/estimate/48ea734a-e5f8-4bc6-813e-1f22b32a238a/toc_pdf/Legal%20and%20Constitutional%20Affairs%20Legislation%20Committee_2019_10_21_7290_Official.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22committees/estimate/48ea734a-e5f8-4bc6-813e-1f22b32a238a/0000%22|url-status=live}}</ref>
Several other countries are now considering setting up similar migration schemes, in particular a proposal from the EU to set up off-shore "asylum seeker processing centres" in North Africa.


==Implementation (2001–2007)==
== External links ==
]
*
The Australian Government passed legislation on 27 September 2001, with amendments to the Commonwealth '']'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Human Rights Law Bulletin Volume 2|url=http://www.humanrights.gov.au/human-rights-law-bulletin-volume-2|work=On 26 and 27 September 2001 the Commonwealth parliament passed migration legislation|publisher=Australian Human Rights Commission|access-date=11 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203071656/http://www.humanrights.gov.au/human-rights-law-bulletin-volume-2|archive-date=3 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> enacted by the '']''. Specifically, the new amendment to the 1958 Act allowed "offshore entry persons" to be taken to "declared countries", with Nauru and Papua New Guinea made "declared countries" under the Act.<ref name=parlrep2002>{{cite report | title=Select Committee for an inquiry into a certain maritime incident. Report | chapter=Chapter 10: Pacific Solution: Negotiations and Agreements (10.73) | website=] | date=23 October 2002 | chapter-url=https://www.aph.gov.au/parliamentary_business/committees/senate/former_committees/maritimeincident/report/c10 | access-date=27 February 2021 | archive-date=27 February 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227054838/https://www.aph.gov.au/parliamentary_business/committees/senate/former_committees/maritimeincident/report/c10 | url-status=live }}</ref> The implementation of this legislation became known as the Pacific Solution<ref>{{cite web|title=What was the 'Pacific Solution'?|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/2012-2013/PacificSolution#_Toc334509636|work=the Howard Government introduced what came to be known as the 'Pacific Solution'|publisher=Parliament of Australia|access-date=11 June 2013|archive-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814123059/https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/2012-2013/PacificSolution#_Toc334509636|url-status=live}}</ref> at the same time as or soon after the passing of the legislation (at least within a year).<ref name=parlrep2002/>
*
*


By redefining the area of Australian territory that could be landed upon and then legitimately used for claims of asylum (the migration zone), and by removing any intercepted people to third countries for processing, the aim was to deter future asylum seekers from making the dangerous journey by boat, once they knew that their trip would probably not end with a legitimate claim for ].<ref>{{cite news |author=UNHCR |url=http://www.unhcr.org/47ac3f9c14.html |title=Welcomes close of Australia's Pacific Solution |newspaper=Unhcr |publisher=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |access-date=22 November 2012 |archive-date=14 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814122817/https://www.unhcr.org/47ac3f9c14.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 28 October 2001, at his 2001 election campaign policy launch, Prime Minister ] said "we will decide who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2001/s422692.htm |title=Liberals accused of trying to rewrite history . Australian Broadcasting Corp |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=21 November 2001 |access-date=22 November 2012 |archive-date=31 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831001858/http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2001/s422692.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> in an effort to build support for the policy.

Asylum seekers were intercepted at sea while sailing from ] and moved using Australian naval vessels. Detention centres were set up on ], ] in Papua New Guinea, and on the island nation of ]. Some were also accepted for processing by ]. Most of the asylum seekers came from ] (largely of the ]), ], ], China, and ]. The last asylum seekers to be detained on Nauru before the end of the policy had come from ] and ].<ref>" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713194832/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6453187.stm |date=13 July 2018 }}". ], 15 March 2007</ref>

Arrivals dropped from a total of 5516 people in 2001 to one arrival in 2002 after implementation of the policy, and remained below 150 annually until 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=Boat arrivals in Australia since 1976|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/2011-2012/BoatArrivals|publisher=Parliament of Australia|access-date=26 July 2013|archive-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814123132/https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/2011-2012/BoatArrivals|url-status=live}}</ref> The removal of the ] from power in Afghanistan may have had some effect in this decrease,<ref name="unh">{{cite web|url= http://www.unhcr.org/pages/4a02afce6.html|title= UNHCR Statistical Yearbooks 1994–2011|access-date= 25 August 2013|archive-date= 21 September 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130921222750/http://www.unhcr.org/pages/4a02afce6.html|url-status= live}}</ref> as nearly six million Afghans had returned to Afghanistan since 2002, almost a quarter of the country's population at the time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Speech by H.E Dr. Jamaher Anwary, Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, Afghanistan, to the International Conference on the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees to Support Voluntary Repatriation, Sustainable Reintegration and Assistance to Host Countries, Geneva, 2 May. 2012|url=http://www.unhcr.org/4fa11f886.pdf|publisher=UNHCR|access-date=25 August 2013|archive-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814150542/https://www.unhcr.org/4fa11f886.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Four boats were successfully returned to Indonesian waters out of the twelve ]s (SIEVs) intercepted by the Navy during ] during 2001–2002, having made 10 attempts to enforce the policy, based on judgements of whether it was safe to do so or not. Three men allegedly drowned trying to swim back to shore after returning to Indonesia.<ref name="cri">{{cite web|first=Amber|last=Jamieson|title=The consequences of turning boats back: SIEV towback cases|url=http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/11/07/the-consequences-of-turning-boats-back-siev-towback-cases/|publisher=Crikey.com.au|date=7 November 2011|access-date=26 August 2013|archive-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814123147/https://www.crikey.com.au/2011/11/07/the-consequences-of-turning-boats-back-siev-towback-cases/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2003, a boat carrying 53 passengers was successfully deterred, and in March 2004, Customs returned a boat with 15 people after interception at the ].<ref name="cri" />

The success rate was 36 per cent of boats, or 31 per cent of asylum seekers sent back to Indonesia.<ref>{{cite web|first=Malcolm|last=Farr|title=Turning back the boats? We should listen to the Navy|url=http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/turning-back-the-boats-we-should-listen-to-the-navy/|publisher=The Punch|access-date=26 August 2013|archive-date=11 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911052505/http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/turning-back-the-boats-we-should-listen-to-the-navy/|url-status=live}}</ref> Details of operations from 2005 to 2008 are scant. ] began in July 2006, run jointly by the ] and the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Operation RESOLUTE|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/opEx/global/opresolute/index.htm|publisher=Department of Defence|access-date=26 August 2013|archive-date=12 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012153722/http://www.defence.gov.au/opEx/global/opresolute/index.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the Pacific Solution period, mainland detention centres were closed at Baxter, ] and Curtin.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/04/11/1018333391993.html | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | title=Detention centres to be scaled down | date=11 April 2002 | access-date=20 October 2009 | archive-date=13 July 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713194517/https://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/04/11/1018333391993.html | url-status=live }}</ref> A lower level of boat arrivals continued throughout the Pacific Solution period, although it was reported to have peaked in 2012, since the abolition of the policy, despite worldwide asylum claim numbers remaining low by historical standards.<ref>{{cite web|title=UNHCR Asylum Trends 2012|url=http://unhcr.org.au/unhcr/files/2012_Asylum_Trends.pdf|access-date=17 September 2013|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321065057/http://unhcr.org.au/unhcr/files/2012_Asylum_Trends.pdf}}</ref> These arrivals also corresponded with increasing numbers of new refugee arrivals in Indonesia after the abandonment of the policy: 385 in 2008, 3,230 in 2009, 3,905 in 2010, 4,052 in 2011, 7,218 in 2012 and 8,332 in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.unhcr.org/50001bda9.html|title=UNHCR – Indonesia Fact Sheet|author=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|work=UNHCR|date=16 Feb 2016|access-date=11 May 2014|archive-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814150540/https://www.unhcr.org/50001bda9.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A probable link between restrictive refugee policies and lower attempts at seeking asylum in Australia by boat have been confirmed by the UNHCR: in April 2014, UNHCR Indonesia representative Manual Jordao stated: "Word that the prospects of reaching Australia by boat from Indonesia are now virtually zero appears to have reached smugglers and would-be asylum seekers in countries of origin such as Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Myanmar. The numbers registering with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Indonesia have dropped from about 100 a day during 2013 to about 100 a week now."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irinnews.org/report/99908/asylum-seekers-stranded-in-indonesia|title=Asylum seekers left high and dry in Indonesia|agency=IRIN|access-date=11 May 2014|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402130402/http://www.irinnews.org/report/99908/asylum-seekers-stranded-in-indonesia|url-status=live}}</ref>

The number of asylum seekers assessed as genuine refugees via the Pacific Solution process was lower than for onshore processing.{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}} 68 per cent of the asylum seekers were deemed genuine refugees and less than 40 per cent of asylum seekers sent to Nauru received resettlement in Australia.{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}} A 2006 report by the ] showed that of the 1509 asylum seekers sent to Nauru by that time, 586 were granted Australian resettlement (39%), 360 resettled in New Zealand (24%), 19 resettled in Sweden (1.2%), 10 in Canada (<1%) and 4 in Norway (<1%). A total of 482 asylum seekers (32%) were deemed not genuine refugees and sent home.<ref name=AHRC>{{cite web|last=AHRC|title=MIGRATION AMENDMENT (DESIGNATED UNAUTHORISED ARRIVALS) BILL 2006|url=http://www.hreoc.gov.au/legal/submissions/migration20060522.html|publisher=AHRC|access-date=23 July 2012|archive-date=14 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014124405/http://hreoc.gov.au/legal/submissions/migration20060522.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The cost of the Pacific Solution between 2001 and 2007 was at least {{AUD|1 billion}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=a price too high: the cost of Australia's approach to asylum seekers|url=http://resources.oxfam.org.au/filestore/originals/OAus-PriceTooHighAsylumSeekers-0807.pdf|work=Financial costs of offshore processing|publisher=A Just Australia, Oxfam Australia and Oxfam Novib|access-date=11 June 2013|archive-date=19 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819044716/http://resources.oxfam.org.au/filestore/originals/OAus-PriceTooHighAsylumSeekers-0807.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/04/17/asylum-seekers-the-facts-in-figures/ |title=Asylum seekers, the facts in figures |publisher=Crikey.com.au |date=17 April 2009 |access-date=22 November 2012 |archive-date=13 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413010846/http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/04/17/asylum-seekers-the-facts-in-figures |url-status=live }}</ref>

], refugee rights groups and other ] said that Australia was failing to meet its international obligations. The ad hoc nature in which the policy evolved was also criticised, as it resulted in people being moved to ] and Nauru before facilities were ready. Poor facilities and services including intermittent electricity and fresh water, poor medical facilities and the serious mental impact of detention on people in these conditions without the certainty of being granted refugee status were also strongly criticised.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://info.humanrights.curtin.edu.au/local/docs/Nauru-report-12Sept2012.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=17 October 2012 |archive-date=27 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140127110117/http://info.humanrights.curtin.edu.au/local/docs/Nauru-report-12Sept2012.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Suspension==
During the campaign for the 2007 parliamentary election, Australian Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd promised{{Citation needed|date=August 2013}} to continue the ]'s policies of turning boats back to Indonesia and the issue of temporary protection visas.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.andysrant.com/2013/07/audio-of-kevin-rudd-saying-turn-back-the-boats-in-2007.html |title=Audio of Kevin Rudd saying 'turn back the boats' in 2007 |access-date=17 July 2013 |archive-date=1 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201221711/http://www.andysrant.com/2013/07/audio-of-kevin-rudd-saying-turn-back-the-boats-in-2007.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Upon Kevin Rudd's ] win, the Pacific Solution was abandoned, with the Nauru processing centre closed down in February 2008,<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/2011-2012/BoatArrivals|title = Last refugees leave Nauru|date = 8 February 2008|access-date = 25 July 2013|publisher = Minister for Immigration, Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship|archive-date = 14 August 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200814123132/https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/2011-2012/BoatArrivals|url-status = live}}</ref> a move welcomed by the ].<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.unhcr.org/47ac3f9c14.html|title = UNHCR welcomes close of Australia's Pacific Solution| newspaper=Unhcr |date = 8 February 2008|access-date = 25 July 2013|publisher = unhcr.org|archive-date = 14 August 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200814122817/https://www.unhcr.org/47ac3f9c14.html|url-status = live}}</ref> The last detainees left Manus Island in 2004 and Nauru in February 2008.<ref>{{cite news|title=UNHCR welcomes close of Australia's Pacific Solution|url=http://www.unhcr.org/47ac3f9c14.html|work=UNHCR welcomes the end of Australia's Pacific Solution which comes to a close today|publisher=UNHCR|access-date=11 June 2013|archive-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814122817/https://www.unhcr.org/47ac3f9c14.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The ] was concerned about losing much-needed aid from Australia.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023210628/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/nauru-fears-gap-when-camps-close/2007/12/10/1197135374481.html |date=23 October 2012 }}. '']'', 11 December 2007</ref> Opposition immigration spokesman ] said the closure could suggest to people-smugglers that Australia was weakening on border protection.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23183785-5013404,00.html |title=Pacific Solution sinks quietly |work=The Australian |first=Paul |last=Maley |date=9 February 2008 |access-date=5 August 2008 |archive-date=2 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091002115202/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23183785-5013404,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Re-implementation (post-2007)==
]
The Australian Government opened the ] in late 2008, and has since expanded facilities and accommodation there.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/boat-influx-opens-howards-white-elephant-20081218-71mz.html | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | title=Boat influx opens Howard's 'white elephant' | first=Jewel | last=Topsfield | date=19 December 2008 | access-date=20 October 2009 | archive-date=28 September 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928072803/http://www.theage.com.au/national/boat-influx-opens-howards-white-elephant-20081218-71mz.html | url-status=live }}</ref> In the 2012–2013 financial year the Government of Australia budgeted $1.1&nbsp;billion to cover the processing costs for 450 arrivals per month.<ref name="Boat arrivals a budget blowout threat">{{cite news|last=Kerin, Massola and Daley|title=Boat arrivals a budget blowout threat|url=http://www.afr.com/p/national/boat_arrivals_budget_blowout_threat_M7uLfAX8NYvdVNmLZXzFHI|access-date=16 April 2013|newspaper=Australian Financial Review|date=15 August 2012|archive-date=3 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203053753/http://www.afr.com/p/national/boat_arrivals_budget_blowout_threat_M7uLfAX8NYvdVNmLZXzFHI|url-status=live}}</ref>

From 2007 to 2010, the number of asylum seeker arrivals by boat increased substantially—from 148 in 2007 to 6555 in 2010.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url = http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1314/BoatArrivals|title = Boat arrivals in Australia since 1976|date = 23 July 2013|access-date = 25 July 2013|last1 = Philips|last2 = Spinks|first1 = Janet|first2 = Harriet|publisher = ]|archive-date = 23 August 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130823141237/http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1314/BoatArrivals|url-status = live}}</ref> This contributed to Rudd's ailing popularity through to 2010, when he resigned prior to a ] of the ] to ]; at this time Rudd said "This party and government will not be lurching ] on the question of asylum seekers".<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2011/s3336424.htm|title = Carbon tax, border protection and leadership|date = 10 October 2011|access-date = 25 July 2013|publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation|work = ]|last = Uhlmann|first = Chris|archive-date = 21 September 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130921144429/http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2011/s3336424.htm|url-status = live}}</ref>

In July 2010, Gillard showed support for the utilisation of "regional processing centres".<ref>{{Cite speech|first = Julia|last = Gillard|access-date = 25 July 2013|location = Sydney|title = Speech to the Lowy Institute|url = http://sievx.com/articles/miscellaneous/2010/20100706JuliaGillard.html|date = 6 July 2010|archive-date = 4 January 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140104204301/http://sievx.com/articles/miscellaneous/2010/20100706JuliaGillard.html|url-status = live}}</ref> In December 2010, in the aftermath of an asylum seeker boat ] at ] in which 48 occupants perished, ] ] and ALP national president ] called for a complete review of the government's policy on asylum seekers.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/chritmas-island-tragedy-forces-review-of-alps-asylum-stance/story-fn59niix-1225972457596|title = Christmas Island tragedy forces review of ALP's asylum stance|date = 17 December 2010|access-date = 25 July 2013|website = ]|last = Walker, Maley|first = Jamie, Paul|archive-date = 6 June 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150606222339/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/chritmas-island-tragedy-forces-review-of-alps-asylum-stance/story-fn59niix-1225972457596|url-status = live}}</ref> In May 2011, the Gillard government announced plans to address the issue of asylum seekers arriving by boat with an asylum seeker 'swap' deal for long-standing genuine refugees in Malaysia. Refugee lawyers asked the High Court to strike down the deal, arguing that the Immigration Minister did not have the power to send asylum seekers to a country that has no legal obligations to protect them.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/high-court-sinks-malaysia-refugee-swap-plan-20110831-1jl1d.html |title=Malaysia Swap Deal For Asylum Seekers Ruled Unlawful By High Court |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=31 August 2011 |access-date=22 November 2012 |archive-date=8 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108185050/http://www.smh.com.au/national/high-court-sinks-malaysia-refugee-swap-plan-20110831-1jl1d.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

There were calls on the Australian Government to reinstate the Pacific Solution by reopening the detention centres on Nauru. Several of these came from former outspoken critics of the policy. Refugee lawyer Marion Le, who had demanded the facility be shut down in 2005, said that it was "time for Labor to bite the bullet and reopen Nauru", while human rights lawyer Julian Burnside disagreed, but conceded that "Nauru certainly the less worse, but both are unacceptable."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/labor-urged-to-revive-pacific-solution-by-refugee-activists/story-fn59niix-1226069001374 | location=Sydney | work=The Australian | title=Labor urged to revive Pacific Solution by refugee activists | date=4 June 2011 | access-date=3 June 2011 | archive-date=18 January 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118103419/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/labor-urged-to-revive-pacific-solution-by-refugee-activists/story-fn59niix-1226069001374 | url-status=live }}</ref> This echoed the sentiment of Independent MP Andrew Wilkie who several days previously, while stopping short of calling for a return to the previous arrangement, noted that "John Howard's Pacific Solution was better."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/julia-gillards-asylum-seeker-solution-damned-by-independent-mp-andrew-wilkie/story-e6freuzr-1226065967951 | location=Sydney | work=The Telegraph | title=Julia Gillard's asylum seeker solution damned by independent MP Andrew Wilkie | first=Gemma | last=Jones | date=31 May 2011}}</ref> The Malaysian people swap deal was deemed unlawful by the High Court.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/court-win-wont-stop-malaysia-deal-fight-20110831-1jkjl.html | location=Sydney | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Malaysian swap deal ruled unlawful | date=31 August 2011}}</ref>

During the 2010 Australian federal election campaign Liberal Leader ] said he would meet with the President of Nauru, ], to demonstrate the Coalition's resolve to reinstate the Pacific Solution policy, should he become prime minister.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106055130/http://www.theage.com.au/federal-election/abbott-to-talk-to-nauru-on-reopening-camp-20100806-11om9.html |date=6 November 2012 }}, Yuko Narushima and Kirsty Needham, ], 8 August 2010. Retrieved 25 December 2010.</ref> Prime Minister ] announced 6 July 2010 that talks were under way to set up a regional processing centre for asylum seekers in ].<ref>Salna, Karlis (6 July 2010)" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100915123345/http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/gillard-unveils-east-timor-solution-20100706-zy9s.html |date=15 September 2010 }}". ]. Retrieved 25 December 2010</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/gillards-timor-solution-reaction-20100706-zyhi.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Gillard's Timor solution: reaction | date=6 July 2010 | access-date=3 January 2011 | archive-date=9 July 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709203048/http://www.smh.com.au/national/gillards-timor-solution-reaction-20100706-zyhi.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

In August 2012, a government-appointed expert panel (Houston Report) recommended a number of changes to the current policy including the reintroduction of the Pacific Solution after an increase in boat people and deaths at sea. It handed down 22 recommendations, including the immediate reopening of immigration detention facilities on Manus Island and Nauru,<ref>{{Cite report|title = Report of the Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers|url = http://expertpanelonasylumseekers.dpmc.gov.au/report|date = 13 August 2012|access-date = 26 July 2013|section = 3.44–3.57|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130806085024/http://expertpanelonasylumseekers.dpmc.gov.au/report|archive-date = 6 August 2013|url-status = dead}}</ref> which the government implemented with bipartisan support.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.examiner.com.au/story/211856/gillard-moves-swiftly-on-nauru-option/|title = Gillard moves swiftly on Nauru option|date = 14 August 2012|access-date = 26 July 2013|website = The Examiner|last = Ireland|first = Judith|archive-date = 4 January 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140104204249/http://www.examiner.com.au/story/211856/gillard-moves-swiftly-on-nauru-option/|url-status = live}}</ref> This was expected to cost $2&nbsp;billion over four years for Nauru and $900&nbsp;million for Papua New Guinea.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2012-08-14/australian-parliament-to-vote-on-pacific-solution/998752 |title=Australian parliament to vote on Pacific Solution |publisher=Radioaustralia.net.au |date=14 August 2012 |access-date=22 November 2012 |archive-date=29 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729232251/http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2012-08-14/australian-parliament-to-vote-on-pacific-solution/998752 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The bill to do so was passed on 16 August 2012. Asylum seekers who arrive by boat to Australia are now to be transferred to remote Pacific islands indefinitely while their claims to refugee status are being processed.<ref>{{cite web |author=Bill Frelick, refugee program director |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2012/08/17/australia-pacific-solution-redux |title=Australia: 'Pacific Solution' Redux |publisher=Human Rights Watch(Hrw.org) |date=17 August 2012 |access-date=22 November 2012 |archive-date=22 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122050650/http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/08/17/australia-pacific-solution-redux |url-status=live }}</ref> ] described the conditions of the Nauru detention facility as "appalling" at this time.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2012/s3637271.htm|title = Amnesty International slams Nauru facility|date = 20 November 2012|access-date = 26 July 2013|website = Lateline|last = Waters|first = Jeff|archive-date = 28 December 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121228055403/http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2012/s3637271.htm|url-status = live}}</ref>

The Government announced on 21 November 2012 that it was recommencing onshore processing with bridging visas.<ref>{{cite news|title=First asylum seekers arrive on Manus Island|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-21/first-asylum-seekers-arrive-on-manus-island/4383876|access-date=12 June 2013|newspaper=ABC|date=21 November 2012|archive-date=9 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509032703/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-21/first-asylum-seekers-arrive-on-manus-island/4383876|url-status=live}}</ref>

] meeting in July 2013]]
On 21 November 2012 Immigration Minister Chris Bowen announced the reopening the Pontville Detention Centre in Tasmania.<ref name="Pontville re-opens">{{cite news|title=Government reopens Pontville Detention Centre|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-21/pontville-reopens-to-asylum-seekers/4384240|access-date=22 November 2012|publisher=ABC News|date=21 November 2012|archive-date=30 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130091335/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-21/pontville-reopens-to-asylum-seekers/4384240|url-status=live}}</ref> On 19 July 2013 in a joint press conference with PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd detailed the Regional Resettlement Arrangement between Australia and Papua New Guinea:<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810050525/http://www.immi.gov.au/visas/humanitarian/novisa/regional-arrangements.pdf |date=10 August 2013 }}. Retrieved 26 July 2013.</ref>

{{quotation|From now on, any asylum seeker who arrives in Australia by boat will have no chance of being settled in Australia as refugees. Asylum seekers taken to Christmas Island will be sent to Manus and elsewhere in Papua New Guinea for assessment of their refugee status. If they are found to be genuine refugees they will be resettled in Papua New Guinea... If they are found not to be genuine refugees they may be repatriated to their country of origin or be sent to a ] other than Australia. These arrangements are contained within the Regional Resettlement Arrangement signed by myself and the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea just now.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/transcript-joint-press-conference-2|title=Transcript of Joint Press Conference|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|date=19 July 2013|access-date=4 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726153301/http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/transcript-joint-press-conference-2|archive-date=26 July 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>}}
The subsequent ] press release stated: "Australia will work with PNG to expand the Manus Island Regional Processing Centre, as well as explore the construction of other regional processing centres in Papua New Guinea...The arrangements {{sic}} also allows for other countries (including Pacific Island states) to participate in similar arrangements in the future."<ref name="imm" />

The number of arrivals continued to climb, to 25,173 in the 2012–13 financial year,<ref name=":1" /> and approximately 862 asylum seekers died trying to reach Australia between 2008 and July 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://theconversation.com/factcheck-have-more-than-1000-asylum-seekers-died-at-sea-under-labor-16221|title = FactCheck: have more than 1000 asylum seekers died at sea under Labor?|date = 23 July 2013|access-date = 26 July 2013|website = The Conversation|publisher = The Conversation Media Group|last = Reilly|first = Alex|archive-date = 26 July 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130726071108/http://theconversation.com/factcheck-have-more-than-1000-asylum-seekers-died-at-sea-under-labor-16221|url-status = live}}</ref> In June 2013, Kevin Rudd toppled Gillard in another ], following weeks of polls indicating the ALP would be defeated at the next election.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/10145093/Kevin-Rudd-sworn-in-as-Australian-prime-minister.html|title = Kevin Rudd sworn in as Australian Prime Minister|date = 27 June 2013|access-date = 26 July 2013|website = ]|last = Pearlman|first = Jonathan|archive-date = 30 June 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130630192322/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/10145093/Kevin-Rudd-sworn-in-as-Australian-prime-minister.html|url-status = live}}</ref>

==Operation Sovereign Borders==
{{main|Operation Sovereign Borders}}
A new policy on boat arrival deterrence, Operation Sovereign Borders, was launched by the new Liberal–National Coalition on 18 September 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2013/07/25/military-reshuffle-abbotts-operation-sovereign-borders/ | title=Military reshuffle: Abbott's 'Operation Sovereign Borders' | date=25 July 2013 }}</ref>

==Papua New Guinea==
The '''Regional Resettlement Arrangement between Australia and Papua New Guinea''', colloquially known as the '''PNG solution''', is an ] policy in which any ] who comes to Australia by boat without a visa will be refused settlement in Australia, instead being settled in ] if they are found to be legitimate refugees. The policy includes a significant expansion of the ] on ], where refugees will be sent to be processed prior to resettlement in Papua New Guinea, and if their refugee status is found to be non-genuine, they will be either repatriated, sent to a third country other than Australia or remain in detention indefinitely. The policy was announced on 19 July 2013 by ] ] and Papua New Guinean Prime Minister ], effective immediately, in response to a growing number of asylum seeker boat arrivals. The then ] ] initially welcomed the policy, while ] leader ] and several human rights advocate groups opposed it, with demonstrations protesting the policy held in every major Australian city after the announcement.

===Announcement===
In the fortnight prior to the announcement of the PNG solution, Rudd visited Indonesia for regular annual talks with Indonesian president ] where they discussed asylum seeker issues, but played down expectations of a policy announcement.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-05/rudd-visits-indonesia/4801092|title = Kevin Rudd arrives in Jakarta for annual talks with Indonesian president|date = 5 July 2013|access-date = 26 July 2013|website = Australia Network News|publisher = ]|archive-date = 14 July 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130714014337/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-05/rudd-visits-indonesia/4801092|url-status = live}}</ref> On 15 July, he and Immigration Minister ] visited Papua New Guinea to discuss asylum seeker policy, in light of a UN Refugee Agency report saying the Manus Island detention centre did not meet international standards.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-14/asylum-seekers2c-trade-on-the-agenda-during-prime-minister-kev/4819332|title = Asylum seekers, trade on the agenda during Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's PNG visit|date = 15 July 2013|access-date = 26 July 2013|work = ABC News|publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation|archive-date = 23 July 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130723004028/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-14/asylum-seekers2c-trade-on-the-agenda-during-prime-minister-kev/4819332|url-status = live}}</ref>

On 19 July 2013, Rudd, Burke and Papua New Guinean Prime Minister ] announced the policy in Brisbane.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-19/manus-island-detention-centre-to-be-expanded-under-rudd27s-asy/4830778|title = Asylum seekers arriving in Australia by boat to be resettled in Papua New Guinea|date = 20 July 2013|access-date = 25 July 2013|publisher = ABC News|archive-date = 24 July 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130724194353/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-19/manus-island-detention-centre-to-be-expanded-under-rudd27s-asy/4830778|url-status = live}}</ref> Rudd declared "From now on, any asylum seeker who arrives in Australia by boat will have no chance of being settled in Australia as refugees." In his speech, he said that asylum seekers taken to Christmas Island will be sent to Manus Island or elsewhere, where their refugee status will be assessed. The announcement also outlined plans to expand the Manus Island detention facility, from 600 occupants to 3,000. All refugees found to be legitimate will be resettled in Papua New Guinea. Any asylum seekers found to be non-genuine refugees will either be repatriated, moved to a third country other than Australia if it is unsafe to be repatriated, or remain in detention indefinitely. Australia will bear the full cost of the setup of the policy, as well as provide funding for reforms of Papua New Guinea's university sector, and assistance with health, education and law and order. Rudd described the policy as "a very hard-line decision" to "combat the scourge of people smuggling".<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/transcript-joint-press-conference-2|title = Transcript of Joint Press Conference: Prime Minister, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Minister for Immigration, Attorney-General|date = 19 July 2013|access-date = 26 July 2013|publisher = pm.gov.au|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130726153301/http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/transcript-joint-press-conference-2|archive-date = 26 July 2013|df = dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.immi.gov.au/visas/humanitarian/novisa/regional-arrangements.pdf|title = Regional Resettlement Arrangement between Australia and Papua New Guinea|access-date = 26 July 2013|publisher = immi.gov.au|archive-date = 10 August 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130810050525/http://www.immi.gov.au/visas/humanitarian/novisa/regional-arrangements.pdf|url-status = dead}}</ref> The two-page Regional Resettlement Arrangement outlining the policy was signed by Rudd and O'Neill prior to the announcement.

===Reception===
The ] Tony Abbott initially showed support for the policy, but said it "wouldn't work under Mr Rudd".<ref name=":2" /> The ] leader ] slammed the announcement, describing the announcement as "a day of shame".<ref name=":2" /> It was condemned by human rights groups such as ], who wrote "Mark this day in history as the day Australia decided to turn its back on the world's most vulnerable people, closed the door and threw away the key";<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.amnesty.org.au/news/comments/32302/|title = Australia passes the parcel and closes the door to desperate boat arrivals|date = 19 July 2013|access-date = 26 July 2013|website = ] Australia|archive-date = 24 July 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130724031810/http://www.amnesty.org.au/news/comments/32302/|url-status = live}}</ref> and the ], describing the policy as potentially "harmful to the physical and psycho-social wellbeing of transferees, particularly families and children".<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/immigration/un-refugee-agency-condemns-kevin-rudds-png-asylum-seeker-plan/story-fn9hm1gu-1226686151213|title = UN refugee agency condemns Kevin Rudd's PNG asylum-seeker plan|date = 26 July 2013|access-date = 26 July 2013|website = ]|last = Packham|first = Ben|archive-date = 27 July 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130727055420/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/immigration/un-refugee-agency-condemns-kevin-rudds-png-asylum-seeker-plan/story-fn9hm1gu-1226686151213|url-status = live}}</ref> Protests of hundreds of refugee supporters were held in Melbourne,<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/hundreds-of-refugee-supporters-protest-kevin-rudds-dramatic-new-asylum-boat-plan-in-melbournes-cbd/story-fni0fit3-1226682391909|title = Hundreds of refugee supporters protest Kevin Rudd's dramatic new asylum boat plan in Melbourne's CBD|date = 20 July 2013|access-date = 26 July 2013|website = ]|last = Landy|first = Samantha|archive-date = 23 July 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130723034351/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/hundreds-of-refugee-supporters-protest-kevin-rudds-dramatic-new-asylum-boat-plan-in-melbournes-cbd/story-fni0fit3-1226682391909|url-status = live}}</ref> Sydney,<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-22/angry-protesters-confront-rudd-over-asylum/4835008|title = Angry protesters confront Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in Sydney over asylum policy|date = 22 July 2013|access-date = 26 July 2013|work = ABC News|publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation|archive-date = 25 July 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130725002816/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-22/angry-protesters-confront-rudd-over-asylum/4835008|url-status = live}}</ref> Perth,<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-20/perth-protest/4832912|title = Protests call for new asylum policy to be dumped|date = 20 July 2013|access-date = 26 July 2013|work = ABC News|publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation|archive-date = 24 July 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130724235149/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-20/perth-protest/4832912|url-status = live}}</ref> Brisbane and Adelaide<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-21/hundreds-rally-in-brisbane-and-adelaide-against-png-asylum-seek/4833824|title = Hundreds rally in Brisbane and Adelaide against PNG asylum seeker plan|date = 21 July 2013|access-date = 26 July 2013|work = ABC News|publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation|archive-date = 24 July 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130724235235/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-21/hundreds-rally-in-brisbane-and-adelaide-against-png-asylum-seek/4833824|url-status = live}}</ref> following the announcement.

On Manus Island, public opinion regarding the policy and the expansion of the detention centre was mixed.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/manus-island-on-high-alert-with-malaria-outbreak-as-asylum-seeker-detainees-head-for-makeshift-detention-centre-in-png/story-fnihsrf2-1226683972595|title = Manus Island on high alert with malaria outbreak as asylum seeker detainees head for makeshift detention centre in PNG|date = 24 July 2013|access-date = 26 July 2013|website = ]|last = Michael|first = Peter|archive-date = 24 July 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130724102143/http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/manus-island-on-high-alert-with-malaria-outbreak-as-asylum-seeker-detainees-head-for-makeshift-detention-centre-in-png/story-fnihsrf2-1226683972595|url-status = live}}</ref> Gary Juffa, governor of the ], suggested asylum seekers resettled there are likely to be met with hostility.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-22/locals-warn-asylum-seeker-plan-will-add-to-png27s-problems/4834718|title = Asylum seekers to receive hostile reception in PNG: local governor|date = 22 July 2013|access-date = 26 July 2013|work = ABC News|publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation|archive-date = 26 July 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130726201931/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-22/locals-warn-asylum-seeker-plan-will-add-to-png27s-problems/4834718|url-status = live}}</ref>

==See also==
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==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== Further reading ==

* {{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041014060834/http://www.oxfam.org.au/campaigns/refugees/pacificsolution/ |website=Oxfam Community Aid Abroad|title=Adrift In The Pacific: The Implications of Australia's Pacific Refugee Solution|date=February 2002|archive-date=14 October 2004|url=http://www.oxfam.org.au/campaigns/refugees/pacificsolution/}}
* {{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907042713/http://www.refugeeaction.org/inside/pacific_solution.htm |website=Refugee Action Committee|title=The Pacific Solution|archive-date=7 September 2011|url=http://www.refugeeaction.org/inside/pacific_solution.htm}}
* {{cite news|title=UNHCR welcomes close of Australia's Pacific Solution|url=http://www.unhcr.org/47ac3f9c14.html|quote= This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.|first=Jennifer|last=Pagonis|newspaper=Unhcr |date=8 Feb 2008}}
*{{cite web | title=Boat arrivals in Australia since 1976 | website=Parliament of Australia|first1=Janet |last1=Phillips |first2=Harriet|last2= Spinks| date=23 July 2013 | url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1314/BoatArrivals|quote= background note provides a brief overview of the historical and political context surrounding boat arrivals in Australia since 1976. }}

{{Nauru topics}}
{{Asylumaustralia}}


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Latest revision as of 20:59, 5 September 2024

Australian asylum policy from 2001

Persons arriving by unauthorised boat to Australia by calendar year
Persons arriving by unauthorised boat to Australia by calendar year
This article is part of
a series about
John Howard


Prime Minister of Australia


Term of government (1996–2007)


Ministries


Elections



John Howard's signature

Government of Australia

The Pacific Solution is the name given to the government of Australia's policy of transporting asylum seekers to detention centres on island nations in the Pacific Ocean, rather than allowing them to land on the Australian mainland. Initially implemented from 2001 to 2007, it had bipartisan support from the Coalition and Labor opposition at the time. The Pacific Solution consisted of three central strategies:

A number of pieces of legislation enabled this policy. The policy was developed by the Howard government in response to the Tampa affair in August 2001 and the Children Overboard affair, and was implemented by Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock on 28 September before the 2001 federal election of 24 November.

The policy was largely dismantled in 2008 by the first Rudd government following the election of the Labor Party; Chris Evans, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship described it as "a cynical, costly and ultimately unsuccessful exercise".

In August 2012, the succeeding Gillard government (Labor) introduced a similar policy, reopening the Nauru and Manus detention centres for offshore processing.

On 19 July 2013, newly returned Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, during his short-lived second term of office, announced that "asylum seekers who come here by boat without a visa will never be settled in Australia", striking a Regional Resettlement Arrangement between Australia and Papua New Guinea, colloquially known as the PNG Solution, to divert all "unauthorised maritime arrivals" to mandatory detention on Manus Island with no possibility of attaining Australian residency.

The Operation Sovereign Borders policy took over from the Pacific Solution after the 2013 federal election, won by the Coalition. It commenced on 18 September 2013 under the new Abbott government. On 31 March 2019, Operation Sovereign Borders reported that there were no people held in the detention centre on Nauru, which had been closed, and that the Manus centre had been officially closed on 31 October 2017. However, on 30 September 2019 the total number of asylum seekers still in PNG and Nauru was 562 (separate numbers were not published), being housed in alternative accommodation.

Implementation (2001–2007)

Afghan refugees returning to Afghanistan worldwide 1994–2011 vs boat people arriving in Australia 1994–2012
Afghan refugees returning to Afghanistan worldwide 1994–2011 versus boat people arriving in Australia 1994–2012

The Australian Government passed legislation on 27 September 2001, with amendments to the Commonwealth Migration Act 1958, enacted by the Migration Legislation Amendment (Excision from the Migration Zone) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2001. Specifically, the new amendment to the 1958 Act allowed "offshore entry persons" to be taken to "declared countries", with Nauru and Papua New Guinea made "declared countries" under the Act. The implementation of this legislation became known as the Pacific Solution at the same time as or soon after the passing of the legislation (at least within a year).

By redefining the area of Australian territory that could be landed upon and then legitimately used for claims of asylum (the migration zone), and by removing any intercepted people to third countries for processing, the aim was to deter future asylum seekers from making the dangerous journey by boat, once they knew that their trip would probably not end with a legitimate claim for asylum in Australia.

On 28 October 2001, at his 2001 election campaign policy launch, Prime Minister John Howard said "we will decide who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come", in an effort to build support for the policy.

Asylum seekers were intercepted at sea while sailing from Indonesia and moved using Australian naval vessels. Detention centres were set up on Christmas Island, Manus Island in Papua New Guinea, and on the island nation of Nauru. Some were also accepted for processing by New Zealand. Most of the asylum seekers came from Afghanistan (largely of the Hazara ethnic group), Iraq, Iran, China, and Vietnam. The last asylum seekers to be detained on Nauru before the end of the policy had come from Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

Arrivals dropped from a total of 5516 people in 2001 to one arrival in 2002 after implementation of the policy, and remained below 150 annually until 2008. The removal of the Taliban from power in Afghanistan may have had some effect in this decrease, as nearly six million Afghans had returned to Afghanistan since 2002, almost a quarter of the country's population at the time.

Four boats were successfully returned to Indonesian waters out of the twelve Suspected Illegal Entry Vessels (SIEVs) intercepted by the Navy during Operation Relex during 2001–2002, having made 10 attempts to enforce the policy, based on judgements of whether it was safe to do so or not. Three men allegedly drowned trying to swim back to shore after returning to Indonesia.

In November 2003, a boat carrying 53 passengers was successfully deterred, and in March 2004, Customs returned a boat with 15 people after interception at the Ashmore Islands.

The success rate was 36 per cent of boats, or 31 per cent of asylum seekers sent back to Indonesia. Details of operations from 2005 to 2008 are scant. Operation Resolute began in July 2006, run jointly by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and the Australian Defence Force.

During the Pacific Solution period, mainland detention centres were closed at Baxter, Woomera and Curtin. A lower level of boat arrivals continued throughout the Pacific Solution period, although it was reported to have peaked in 2012, since the abolition of the policy, despite worldwide asylum claim numbers remaining low by historical standards. These arrivals also corresponded with increasing numbers of new refugee arrivals in Indonesia after the abandonment of the policy: 385 in 2008, 3,230 in 2009, 3,905 in 2010, 4,052 in 2011, 7,218 in 2012 and 8,332 in 2013. A probable link between restrictive refugee policies and lower attempts at seeking asylum in Australia by boat have been confirmed by the UNHCR: in April 2014, UNHCR Indonesia representative Manual Jordao stated: "Word that the prospects of reaching Australia by boat from Indonesia are now virtually zero appears to have reached smugglers and would-be asylum seekers in countries of origin such as Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Myanmar. The numbers registering with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Indonesia have dropped from about 100 a day during 2013 to about 100 a week now."

The number of asylum seekers assessed as genuine refugees via the Pacific Solution process was lower than for onshore processing. 68 per cent of the asylum seekers were deemed genuine refugees and less than 40 per cent of asylum seekers sent to Nauru received resettlement in Australia. A 2006 report by the Australian Human Rights Commission showed that of the 1509 asylum seekers sent to Nauru by that time, 586 were granted Australian resettlement (39%), 360 resettled in New Zealand (24%), 19 resettled in Sweden (1.2%), 10 in Canada (<1%) and 4 in Norway (<1%). A total of 482 asylum seekers (32%) were deemed not genuine refugees and sent home.

The cost of the Pacific Solution between 2001 and 2007 was at least A$1 billion.

Amnesty International, refugee rights groups and other non-governmental organisations said that Australia was failing to meet its international obligations. The ad hoc nature in which the policy evolved was also criticised, as it resulted in people being moved to Manus Island and Nauru before facilities were ready. Poor facilities and services including intermittent electricity and fresh water, poor medical facilities and the serious mental impact of detention on people in these conditions without the certainty of being granted refugee status were also strongly criticised.

Suspension

During the campaign for the 2007 parliamentary election, Australian Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd promised to continue the Howard government's policies of turning boats back to Indonesia and the issue of temporary protection visas. Upon Kevin Rudd's 2007 election win, the Pacific Solution was abandoned, with the Nauru processing centre closed down in February 2008, a move welcomed by the UN Refugee Agency. The last detainees left Manus Island in 2004 and Nauru in February 2008.

The Republic of Nauru was concerned about losing much-needed aid from Australia. Opposition immigration spokesman Chris Ellison said the closure could suggest to people-smugglers that Australia was weakening on border protection.

Re-implementation (post-2007)

Immigration Detention Population to December 2014

The Australian Government opened the Christmas Island Immigration Reception and Processing Centre in late 2008, and has since expanded facilities and accommodation there. In the 2012–2013 financial year the Government of Australia budgeted $1.1 billion to cover the processing costs for 450 arrivals per month.

From 2007 to 2010, the number of asylum seeker arrivals by boat increased substantially—from 148 in 2007 to 6555 in 2010. This contributed to Rudd's ailing popularity through to 2010, when he resigned prior to a leadership spill of the Australian Labor Party to Julia Gillard; at this time Rudd said "This party and government will not be lurching to the right on the question of asylum seekers".

In July 2010, Gillard showed support for the utilisation of "regional processing centres". In December 2010, in the aftermath of an asylum seeker boat sinking at Christmas Island in which 48 occupants perished, Queensland Premier and ALP national president Anna Bligh called for a complete review of the government's policy on asylum seekers. In May 2011, the Gillard government announced plans to address the issue of asylum seekers arriving by boat with an asylum seeker 'swap' deal for long-standing genuine refugees in Malaysia. Refugee lawyers asked the High Court to strike down the deal, arguing that the Immigration Minister did not have the power to send asylum seekers to a country that has no legal obligations to protect them.

There were calls on the Australian Government to reinstate the Pacific Solution by reopening the detention centres on Nauru. Several of these came from former outspoken critics of the policy. Refugee lawyer Marion Le, who had demanded the facility be shut down in 2005, said that it was "time for Labor to bite the bullet and reopen Nauru", while human rights lawyer Julian Burnside disagreed, but conceded that "Nauru certainly the less worse, but both are unacceptable." This echoed the sentiment of Independent MP Andrew Wilkie who several days previously, while stopping short of calling for a return to the previous arrangement, noted that "John Howard's Pacific Solution was better." The Malaysian people swap deal was deemed unlawful by the High Court.

During the 2010 Australian federal election campaign Liberal Leader Tony Abbott said he would meet with the President of Nauru, Marcus Stephen, to demonstrate the Coalition's resolve to reinstate the Pacific Solution policy, should he become prime minister. Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced 6 July 2010 that talks were under way to set up a regional processing centre for asylum seekers in East Timor.

In August 2012, a government-appointed expert panel (Houston Report) recommended a number of changes to the current policy including the reintroduction of the Pacific Solution after an increase in boat people and deaths at sea. It handed down 22 recommendations, including the immediate reopening of immigration detention facilities on Manus Island and Nauru, which the government implemented with bipartisan support. This was expected to cost $2 billion over four years for Nauru and $900 million for Papua New Guinea.

The bill to do so was passed on 16 August 2012. Asylum seekers who arrive by boat to Australia are now to be transferred to remote Pacific islands indefinitely while their claims to refugee status are being processed. Amnesty International described the conditions of the Nauru detention facility as "appalling" at this time.

The Government announced on 21 November 2012 that it was recommencing onshore processing with bridging visas.

Protesters outside ALP caucus meeting in July 2013

On 21 November 2012 Immigration Minister Chris Bowen announced the reopening the Pontville Detention Centre in Tasmania. On 19 July 2013 in a joint press conference with PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd detailed the Regional Resettlement Arrangement between Australia and Papua New Guinea:

From now on, any asylum seeker who arrives in Australia by boat will have no chance of being settled in Australia as refugees. Asylum seekers taken to Christmas Island will be sent to Manus and elsewhere in Papua New Guinea for assessment of their refugee status. If they are found to be genuine refugees they will be resettled in Papua New Guinea... If they are found not to be genuine refugees they may be repatriated to their country of origin or be sent to a safe third country other than Australia. These arrangements are contained within the Regional Resettlement Arrangement signed by myself and the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea just now.

The subsequent Department of Immigration and Citizenship press release stated: "Australia will work with PNG to expand the Manus Island Regional Processing Centre, as well as explore the construction of other regional processing centres in Papua New Guinea...The arrangements [sic] also allows for other countries (including Pacific Island states) to participate in similar arrangements in the future."

The number of arrivals continued to climb, to 25,173 in the 2012–13 financial year, and approximately 862 asylum seekers died trying to reach Australia between 2008 and July 2013. In June 2013, Kevin Rudd toppled Gillard in another leadership spill, following weeks of polls indicating the ALP would be defeated at the next election.

Operation Sovereign Borders

Main article: Operation Sovereign Borders

A new policy on boat arrival deterrence, Operation Sovereign Borders, was launched by the new Liberal–National Coalition on 18 September 2013.

Papua New Guinea

The Regional Resettlement Arrangement between Australia and Papua New Guinea, colloquially known as the PNG solution, is an Australian Government policy in which any asylum seeker who comes to Australia by boat without a visa will be refused settlement in Australia, instead being settled in Papua New Guinea if they are found to be legitimate refugees. The policy includes a significant expansion of the Australian immigration detention facility on Manus Island, where refugees will be sent to be processed prior to resettlement in Papua New Guinea, and if their refugee status is found to be non-genuine, they will be either repatriated, sent to a third country other than Australia or remain in detention indefinitely. The policy was announced on 19 July 2013 by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Papua New Guinean Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, effective immediately, in response to a growing number of asylum seeker boat arrivals. The then Opposition Leader Tony Abbott initially welcomed the policy, while Greens leader Christine Milne and several human rights advocate groups opposed it, with demonstrations protesting the policy held in every major Australian city after the announcement.

Announcement

In the fortnight prior to the announcement of the PNG solution, Rudd visited Indonesia for regular annual talks with Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono where they discussed asylum seeker issues, but played down expectations of a policy announcement. On 15 July, he and Immigration Minister Tony Burke visited Papua New Guinea to discuss asylum seeker policy, in light of a UN Refugee Agency report saying the Manus Island detention centre did not meet international standards.

On 19 July 2013, Rudd, Burke and Papua New Guinean Prime Minister Peter O'Neill announced the policy in Brisbane. Rudd declared "From now on, any asylum seeker who arrives in Australia by boat will have no chance of being settled in Australia as refugees." In his speech, he said that asylum seekers taken to Christmas Island will be sent to Manus Island or elsewhere, where their refugee status will be assessed. The announcement also outlined plans to expand the Manus Island detention facility, from 600 occupants to 3,000. All refugees found to be legitimate will be resettled in Papua New Guinea. Any asylum seekers found to be non-genuine refugees will either be repatriated, moved to a third country other than Australia if it is unsafe to be repatriated, or remain in detention indefinitely. Australia will bear the full cost of the setup of the policy, as well as provide funding for reforms of Papua New Guinea's university sector, and assistance with health, education and law and order. Rudd described the policy as "a very hard-line decision" to "combat the scourge of people smuggling". The two-page Regional Resettlement Arrangement outlining the policy was signed by Rudd and O'Neill prior to the announcement.

Reception

The Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott initially showed support for the policy, but said it "wouldn't work under Mr Rudd". The Australian Greens leader Christine Milne slammed the announcement, describing the announcement as "a day of shame". It was condemned by human rights groups such as Amnesty International Australia, who wrote "Mark this day in history as the day Australia decided to turn its back on the world's most vulnerable people, closed the door and threw away the key"; and the UN Refugee Agency, describing the policy as potentially "harmful to the physical and psycho-social wellbeing of transferees, particularly families and children". Protests of hundreds of refugee supporters were held in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide following the announcement.

On Manus Island, public opinion regarding the policy and the expansion of the detention centre was mixed. Gary Juffa, governor of the Oro Province, suggested asylum seekers resettled there are likely to be met with hostility.

See also

References

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