Refugees advised against travelling to OZ illegally

Strongly advising against refugees taking illegal and dangerous boat rides to Australia, a senior diplomat today said these people would be "returned" to their country of origin, if they do not have valid reasons and documents.
"Anyone who arrives by boat and who does not engage Australia's obligations, including Sri Lankan nationals residing in India, can and will be returned," Australia's Consul General to South India David Holly said.
Talking to reporters here, Holly referred to the recent incidents of Tamil Nadu Police foiling attempts of some Sri Lankan nationals residing in India to reach Australia by taking illegal boats.

"These are dangerous boat rides, which are arranged by people, smugglers, who take huge money making a false promise that it will land them in Australia. There is no shortcut other than the legal route to Australia," he said.
He said last year alone over 1,100 Sri Lankans were returned to their country, soon after they landed in Australia, without valid reasons.
Though Iranians have been topping the list of people reaching Australia illegally, the number of Sri Lankans trying to do so were on the rise in the last year, Immigration Officer Jose Alvarez said. "In three months between June and August last year alone, more then 6,000 Sri Lankans illegally arrived," he said.

Australia detains those who reach its shore illegally and transfers them to the Nauru and Manus Island of Papua New Guinea, depending on whether they "engage in Australia's international obligations."
"These people then face a wait of up to five years before their claims are processed and are unable to work during this time. Most will never see Australia," he said.
Though Australia's immigration policy allowed 20,000 refugees annually into the country, Holly said "These 20,000 are through the legal channels, wherein United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees help us identify the real refugees.