Australia’s Attorney General Mark Dreyfus has confirmed that gay asylum seekers who arrive without a visa will be sent to Papua New Guinea despite homosexuality being punishable by up to 14 years imprisonment on the island.
News.com has reported that when speaking in Sydney to announce new funding for Sydney’s HIV/AIDS Legal Centre Mr Dreyfus told reporters,
“It’s a general policy that anyone who arrives in Australia by boat without a visa … will be transferred to Papua New Guinea.”
Mr Dreyfus said that people will not be transferred before there is appropriate accommodation.
“At the same time our minister for immigration Tony Burke has made it very clear that those transfers won’t occur until there is appropriate accommodation and appropriate circumstances for everyone who is sent.”
The minister said Australia would not pressure Papua New Guinea to change their laws on homosexuality.
Alongside Health Minister Tanya Plibersek, Mr Dreyfus announced an additional 4million dollars would be provided to the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre, “Access to legal advice and support is essential to strengthening our local communities and our democracy,” said Mr Dreyfus.
OIP Staff
