CANBERRA: 13.October 2011.UNHCR notes with interest developments today and statements by the Government in relation to asylum-seeker policy.

Pending any developments from the legislature, it appears that the current situation of onshore processing of asylum claims in Australia will continue in line with the guidance
set out in the recent High Court decision.

In this situation, UNHCR believes that the proper focus must now be to ensure that all
asylum-seekers receive fair, efficient and timely assessments of their refugee claims in
Australia.

UNHCR encourages Australia to consider conducting a complete and comprehensive review of the Australian asylum system, possibly through a ‘quality initiative project’
such as that implemented by the UK and other European countries in recent years.

Such a project would involve the authorities working closely with UNHCR to review
Australia’s asylum system from top to bottom with the aim of promoting greater
effectiveness, efficiency and fairness.

UNHCR also urges the Government to review its current policy of mandatory detention for boat arrivals and to consider alternatives that would allow asylum-seekers to avoid prolonged periods of detention in isolated and sometimes crowded conditions.
Experience shows that such conditions impact negatively and profoundly on the health
and well-being of asylum-seekers and refugees in detention.

More broadly, UNHCR encourages Australia to continue its support in South-east Asia to improve the quality of refugee protection in the region, particularly working with
other states in the Bali Process under the Regional Cooperation Framework.

UNHCR is convinced that effective domestic asylum procedures in Australia, supplemented by cooperative approaches in the region can help to provide asylumseekers
with viable protection options other than through dangerous and exploitative boat journeys to Australia.

We look forward to further clarification and details on a number of the issues raised by
the Government today.