Labor Govt Opens Door for 19,000 Asylum-Seekers to Apply for Permanent Residency

Labor Govt Opens Door for 19,000 Asylum-Seekers to Apply for Permanent Residency
Sri Lankan asylum seekers after their boat broke down in Indonesia. They were on the way to Australia's Christmas Island. Oscar Siagian/Getty Images
Daniel Y. Teng
Updated:
0:00

More than 19,000 asylum seekers have been given the go-ahead to apply for permanent residency in Australia by the Labor government.

In a statement, the Australian immigration minister said the country “owed” asylum seekers protection, but at the same time, Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil issued a warning to people smugglers.
Daniel Y. Teng
Daniel Y. Teng
Writer
Daniel Y. Teng is based in Brisbane, Australia. He focuses on national affairs, including federal politics and Australia-China relations. Got a tip? Contact him at [email protected].
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