Recommendation 288
- Department of Home Affairs
Australia is a nation built on migration. The Australian Government's immigration and border protection policies recognise and reflect an enduring commitment to providing migrants with a safe, orderly and legal means to settlement in this country.
A critical element of the Australian Government's policies is sending a clear message that people smugglers cannot sell a path to Australia. If people attempt to reach Australia by boat, unlawfully, they will be safely returned, or transferred to a regional processing country for a protection claims assessment by that country.
Addressing irregular migration, through secure borders, is essential in creating confidence that the Australian Government can mitigate risks, provide generous humanitarian assistance to vulnerable persons most in need, and support a wide range of migration pathways. Australia recognises the important and positive role of scrutiny bodies in providing independent oversight of Australia's immigration detention system and values the formal and informal engagement with civil society and the international community on asylum, refugee and migration matters.