Australia protection visa system, intended to offer refuge to those in genuine need, has come under scrutiny for being exploit. The Australian government is now taking steps to clamp down on this misuse.
Misuse of Protection Visas
According to the Australian government, 90 percent of those applying for protection visas are found not to genuinely require protection. This situation has led to prolong waiting times for those who genuinely need asylum to have their claims consider.
These findings are the result of a review conduct by Christine Nixon, former Chief Commissioner of Police in the state of Victoria.
Cracking Down on Migration Agents
In response, the Australian government is taking action against migration agents who identify as engaging in unethical practices that exploit the visa system. Additionally, there are identify “loopholes” in Australia’s migration system that organize criminal groups have exploit to smuggle people into the country.
The review also report on how individuals holding temporary visas and international students subject to exploitation.
Exploiting Protection Visas
The Australian government has note instances where individuals falsely claim asylum in Australia, allowing them to reside in the country for up to 11 years before their cases are brought to court. It is these “loopholes” in the immigration system that the Australian government intends to address.
One of the measures being taken is the allocation of AUD 160 million to “restore integrity” to the visa processing system. The breakdown of this funding includes:
58 million AUD to hire 10 additional personnel for the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) and 10 additional judges in the Federal Circuit and Family Court.
54 million AUD to expedite the processing of new visa applications by the Department of Home Affairs.
48 million AUD to fund legal assistance services.
The funding provid to the Department of Home Affairs in Australia will be use to establish a new division and security task force. This security task force will be responsible for safeguarding the immigration system, targeting the abuse of organize immigration programs.
They will also be responsible for handling individuals whose visas have expire but who remain in Australia.
Coordination and Reform
Australian Minister for Home Affairs Clare O’Neil state that the Australian government would enhance coordination to address these issues. “Permanent security staff will overhaul the immigration system and address the significant issues we see, ensuring that wrongdoers are remove and held accountable,” Clare said. The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority will double the number of officers and increase penalties for migration agents found to be acting “unethically.”
Character tests for migration agents will also be tighten, and Operation Inglenook, which identifies and assists victims of human trafficking within the sex industry, will be expand.
Serious Attention Need
David Manne, Executive Director of the Refugee Legal organization, praise the effort to improve Australia’s immigration system as a “significant step.” He note that asylum seekers applying for protection visas often wait for years before their interviews, with decisions taking additional years to process, leading to a backlog of cases.
David estimate that there are between 25,000 to 30,000 people waiting for protection visa processing, while another 50,000 are caught in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal process. “Serious attention is need because the system, after a decade of neglect, is in crisis,” David said.
Paris Aristotle, CEO of the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, agree that prolong processing times can cause additional trauma for asylum seekers due to “never-ending uncertainty.” He suggeste that increase funding could lead to long-term cost savings by ensuring credible and swift decision-making while preserving Australian taxpayers’ funds.