History of Asylum seekers.

By eastobe
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    History of Asylum seekrs

  • Vietnam war

    Thousands of refugees enter Australia in the aftermath of the Vietnam War.

  • Detention laws

    required by rule detention laws for all foreigners who arrive in Australia without a visa are introduced by the Keating Labor government, with bi-partisan support.

  • Temporary protection visas

    The Howard Government introduces Temporary Protection Visas for asylum seekers who arrive unauthorised and are subsequently assessed by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs to be refugees.

  • Diplomatic dipute

    A diplomatic dispute brews between Australia, Norway, and Indonesia after the Norwegian flagged ship MV Tampa rescues 439 Afghans from international waters off Australia, and is refused entry into Australian waters.

  • Pacific Solution

    a 'Pacific Solution' is implemented under John Howard. This is the policy of transporting asylum seekers to detention camps on small island nations in the Pacific Ocean, rather than allowing them to land on the Australian mainland.

  • Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock

    Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock says asylum seekers on a boat intercepted by HMAS Adelaide have been throwing children overboard in a ploy to secure passage to Australia. A Senate select committee inquiry subsequently finds that no children were thrown overboard.

  • 2007 parliamentary election

    During the campaign for the 2007 parliamentary election, Australian Labor Party candidate Kevin Rudd promises to put an end to the 'Pacific Solution' if he were elected.

  • Temporary Protection visa.

    The Rudd Government abolishes the Temporary Protection visa regime.

  • refugees leaving Nauru

    Australia ends its policy of sending asylum seekers into detention on small Pacific islands, with the last refugees leaving Nauru.

  • West Australian coast

    An explosion off the West Australian coast of Ashmore Reef kills up to five suspected asylum seekers and injures another 44 people.

  • Any asylum seekers

    More than 1100 passengers and over 46 crew have arrived in Australia by boat in 2009.