Australia and asylum seekers

What is the difference between migrants, asylum seekers and refugees?

Economic migrants normally leave a country voluntarily to seek a better life. Should they elect to return home, they would continue to receive the protection of their government. Refugees flee because of the threat of persecution and cannot return safely to their homes in the prevailing circumstances. An asylum seeker is someone who is seeking international protection but whose claim for refugee status has not yet been determined. [1]

Are asylum seekers 'illegals'?

According to Article 31 of the Refugee Convention [2] which Australia has signed, those who have come to Australia without a valid visa have illegally entered the country. That is the case even though these people have not committed a crime, nor broken any Australian or international law. [3]

Unfortunately, since the term 'illegal' implies wrong-doing, criminality or punishable offence, its use is misleading to the public when used without qualification. The Australian Press Council has recommended that the media not use this description for refugees.

Are boat arrivals ‘genuine refugees’?

Under the Pacific Solution (Sep 2001 to Feb 2008), approximately 70% have been recognized as refugees. Around 40% of air arrivals have been recognized as refugees. Since 2009, about half of onshore asylum seekers have arrived by boat. In 2012-2013, 20,019 visas were granted under the Humanitarian Programme, of which 63% were granted under the offshore component and 37% visas were granted under the onshore component. [4]

Since 2010, which corresponds with the period of increased boat arrivals, over 90% of boat arrivals have been recognized as refugees. [7]

Other facts: [5][6]

• In 2012, Australia received 1.47% of the global total of 2,011,334 new asylum claims (20th overall, 29th per capita and 52nd relative to GDP).
• Australia gave refugee recognition to 0.61% of the 1,361,816 asylum seekers recognized as refugees (28th overall, 32nd per capita and 44th relative to GDP).
• Australia resettled 6.70% of the 88,578 refugees resettled (3rd overall, 2nd per capita and 2nd relative to GDP). Note: Resettlement is a scheme whereby a third country takes refugees who cannot be safely settled in the country they originally sought asylum. Globally, 0.7% of refugees were re-settled.
• More than half of refugees to Australia come from Afghanistan, Iran, Sri Lanka and Iraq.
• In 2010-2011, 2,696 Protection Visas were granted to refugees who arrived by boat (1.3% of the 213,409 people who migrated to Australia during the year).
• Australia is one of few nations in the world which imposes mandatory detention on asylum seekers who arrive without visas.
• 27,000 asylum seekers living in the community on bridging visas are not allowed to work.

References:

1. http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/2012-2013/AsylumFacts
2. http://www.unhcr.org/3b66c2aa10.html
3. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-06/morrison-correct-illegal-entry-people/4935372
4. https://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/60refugee.htm
5. https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au
6. http://unhcr.org/globaltrendsjune2013/UNHCR%20GLOBAL%20TRENDS%202012_V05.pdf
7. Table 21 of http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/statistics/asylum/_files/asylum-stats-march-quarter-2013.pdf

Update March 19, 2014: Added refugee status figures for boat arrivals since 2010.