The new Australian government has abandoned the country's controversial policy of jailing all asylum seekers.
The new Australian government has abandoned the country's controversial policy of jailing all asylum seekers.
In a major overhaul of immigration rules, the policy of detaining would-be asylum seekers in often remote jails will now be used only as a last resort.
In a major overhaul of immigration rules, the policy of detaining would-be asylum seekers in often remote jails will now be used only as a last resort.
Children will no longer be held. Human rights groups have welcomed the move.
Children will no longer be held, and adults who are detained will have their situation evaluated every three months.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd ended the lengthy detention of asylum seekers on Pacific islands - a policy known as the Pacific Solution.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans called the decision a move towards "more humane" treatment of asylum seekers.
Human rights groups welcomed the announcement.
Amnesty International called the reforms a "welcome step forward" that would bring Australia's system "into line with other Western democracies".
'Human dignity'
The strict policy of detaining asylum seekers and visitors who overstayed their visas was brought in by a former Labor government in the 1990s.
The strict policy of detaining asylum seekers and visitors who overstayed their visas was brought in by a former Labor government in the 1990s.
But it was its hard-line enforcement by Australia's conservative prime minister John Howard that drew criticism from groups like the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees.
But it was its hard-line enforcement by conservative leader John Howard that drew criticism from rights groups and the United Nations. This isn't about a mass opening of the gates, this is about a more humane treatment of asylum seekers Chris Evans,Immigration Minister
Deterrent to smugglers
In 2001, Mr Howard adopted a policy which prevented asylum seekers from landing on Australian soil and sent them instead to detention centres on small Pacific islands.
In 2001, Mr Howard adopted a tough new stance called the Pacific Solution, which prevented asylum seekers from landing on Australian soil, and sent them instead to detention centres on small Pacific islands.
The policy, called the Pacific Solution, led to protests and hunger strikes from the detainees.
The policy even extended to children and followed the controversial Tampa Affair, a stand-off involving more than 400 mainly Afghan refugees, who were blocked from landing on Australian shores.
Earlier this year, fulfilling a campaign pledge, the new Labor government formally ended the Pacific Solution. Now it has announced further reforms.
Now the new government has announced a complete overhaul of that approach.
Children will no longer be detained in immigration detention centres, while people deemed to pose no danger will be able to remain in the community while their visa status is being resolved.
Children will no longer be detained in immigration detention centres, while people deemed to pose no danger will be able to remain in the community while their visa status is being resolved.
The government will reserve the right to detain some people arriving illegally by boat - mainly as a deterrent to people smugglers - but immigration officials will now have to justify why they pose a risk that requires their confinement.
The government will reserve the right to detain some people arriving illegally by boat - mainly as a deterrent to people smugglers - but immigration officials will now have to justify why they pose a risk that requires their confinement.
The human-rights group Amnesty International said the changes should result in the release of some 380 asylum seekers currently in Australian detention.
"This isn't about a mass opening of the gates, this is about a more humane treatment of asylum seekers, a more humane detention policy," Mr Evans said.
A spokesman said this would bring Australia into line with other Western democracies.
"We think this will allow us to maintain strong border security but also treat people with human dignity."
The policy would apply to a review of the cases of about 380 people currently in detention, he said.
Amnesty International's campaign coordinator Dr Graham Thom praised the move.
"This will help repair the harm done to our international reputation by previous policies, where prolonged detention caused irreparable damage to both the physical and mental health of those detained," he said in a statement.
But he called for further steps to be taken, including the closure of the remote Christmas Island detention centre.
Have you been an asylum seeker in Australia? Send your comments and experience using the form below:
Have you been an asylum seeker in Australia? Send your comments and experience using the form below:
