Emma-Jane Hoolihan | The Wire

Is sending asylum seekers to East Timor the answer? Image: unknown

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the Federal Government’s plan for refugees and asylum seekers to be processed in an offshore regional processing centre in East Timor.

Although the East Timorese government is yet to be included in discussions, the potential plans would mean any boat intercepted in Australian waters would be redirected to East Timor while asylum applications are processed.

President of the refugee council of Australia John Gibson praised the Labor party’s new position on asylum seekers.

“First of all, there are two things about the Prime Minister’s statement which is very positive and showed some leadership on the issue.

“The first is recognising and acknowledging why people leave their country of origin on the grounds of various forms of persecution. That was a clear statement that distinguished her from her two predecessors.

“Also putting it in its national context. The numbers that are coming here in implication are relatively small compared to what’s going on in the rest of the world and (it’s) a very small proportion of our migration intake.”

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As part of Labor’s policy, Sri Lankan refugees will now be able to apply for asylum but John Gibson has concerns about Labor’s attitude to Afghani asylum seekers.

“This continued suspension puts lives at risk, and last week 11 Hazara Afghans who were taken off a vehicle in the province in which Australian troops were fighting, were beheaded and left on the side of the road, Mr Gibson says.

“That sort of risk makes it highly problematic that people could be sent back if their claims are refused.”

Greens senator Sarah Hanson Young says Julia Gillard’s idea of processing applications outside Australia is more a political rather than humanitarian response.

“I think this announcement is all about the election coming up,” Ms Hanson-Young says.

“(It) Has nothing to do with what is best for asylum seekers, nothing to do with what is better for Australia’s standing in relation to the rest of the world in terms of obligations, nothing to do with protecting the world’s most vulnerable people and has nothing to do with safety at sea. “

The Greens Senator believes that as long as wars and conflicts continue in our region, people will find whatever means possible to flea prosecution and seek protection.

She says processing refugees offshore will not work and that refugees should not be demonised for political gain.

“Anyone who reaches Australian waters in search for freedom and protection from persecution must have their claim processed here on the Australian mainland. That’s what other countries do, that’s our responsibility,” Ms Hanson-Young says.

“What Julia Gillard has suggested is that not only are we going to send all people offshore but we’re then going to insist that other countries, rather than Australia resettle them.”

Professor Damien Kingsbury from the school of international and political studies and Deakin University says plans to open a regional processing facility are far from certain, with the East Timorese government yet to be consulted on the issue.

“There’s on one hand the possibility that they might be angry about being blind sighted on this, and for good reason.

“But on the other hand, if the Australian government can hold out a sufficient incentive for the Timorese government then perhaps they might accept the deal, with some grumbling and perhaps extracting a reasonably high price.”

Professor Kingsbury says the issue does not necessarily raise questions about how to stop people smuggling, but rather question where the asylum seekers end up.

“The question is whether or not it’s going to create a more orderly method for processing asylum seekers.“

Emma-Jane Hoolihan is a reporter for The Wire.