Fed: Posters part of plan to deter illegal immigrants

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-1999
Fed: Posters part of plan to deter illegal immigrants

The federal government will display hard-hitting posters around the world in a bid
to make illegal immigrants think twice about entering Australia.

Federal Immigration Minister PHILIP RUDDOCK says the posters aim to decrease Australia's
attractiveness to illegal immigrants by emphasising the country's tough new laws.

Following the recent influx of boat people, the government has removed immediate residency
provisions and increased the penalty for traffickers.

It has also expanded its powers to stop and search boats outside Australia's territorial waters.

Mr RUDDOCK will hand deliver some of the posters when he meets with government officials
in Iran, Jordan, Pakistan and Turkey next month.

He says a large portion of the 2,631 illegal arrivals by boat in the year to November
1999 were Afghans and Iraqis who were actually already refugees in nearby countries.

He also says his visit will enable him to obtain a clearer idea of how the government
can most appropriately respond to the problem.





The posters read: You will NOT be welcome, you WILL be kept in detention centres, thousands
of kilometres from Sydney and you could LOSE all your money and be sent back.

AAP RTV jw/sb/jn

KEYWORD: BOAT RUDDOCK (SYDNEY)

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