AUSTRALIA will accept an extra 6,250
refugees in 2012/13 from source and transit countries, as part of the
government's plan to discourage irregular boat arrivals.
The Gillard government announced in August it would increase
Australia's annual humanitarian intake from 13,750 to 20,000, and to
27,000 within five years.
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen says
the extra resettlements will come from priority regions in the Middle
East, Africa and Asia.
"The increase in places target those in
most need, including those vulnerable people in camps around the world,"
he said in a statement.
"We are providing more opportunities for
vulnerable and displaced people to pursue safer resettlement options in
Australia as part of an orderly humanitarian program."
This would
reinforce the government's "no-advantage" policy by showing that no
special treatment would be given to those arriving by boat.
Mr Bowen, who has been visiting refugee shelters and camps in
Lebanon this week, said the decision will change the lives of people
languishing in camps and other places around the world.
"As I
witnessed in Lebanon, countries in the region bear a significant burden,
generously providing protection space to refugees," he said.
With
the humanitarian program increased by more than 40 per cent, Australia
is now the second largest resettlement country in the world behind the
US, Mr Bowen said.
The increase in resettlements will include up
to 2000 African refugees, 3800 Iraqis from Syria, Turkey, Jordan and
Lebanon, and 2000 Afghans from countries in the region.
The
Opposition said in response that the government is expanding the
humanitarian program to give more permanent visas for people arriving by
boat.
"The increase in refugee visas under Labor will be so
people coming on boats, not those waiting in dire need across the world
who come through the front door, are still given permanent visas,''
immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said in a statement.
The people smugglers' product was still firmly on the table, he said.
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