Group on their way to Manus

Main Stories, National
Source:

The National, Monday July 22nd, 2013

 MORE than 80 boat people are facing transfer to Papua New Guinea under the Australian government’s tough new asylum seeker plan, after their vessel was intercepted.

A boat with 81 passengers and two crew was stopped by HMAS Bathurst on Saturday with the mostly Iranian asylum seekers transferred to Christmas Island for health checks.

Australian Immigration Minister Tony Burke said they would be processed under the government’s hardline approach, which will see those seeking asylum sent to Manus with no chance of resettlement in Australia.

Families and children would be spared immediate transfer to PNG because of the inadequate state of facilities on Manus Island, he said. – AAP