Rejected asylum seekers get visas

23 March 2011 08:55 am Views - 4758

Two Sri Lankan men who were among the first plane-load of rejected asylum seekers flown to the mainland from Christmas Island by the Rudd government have been granted visas after reviewers found them to be at risk if returned to Sri Lanka.

The then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had said the 89 men were being processed for return home.

Lawyer David Manne said the cases showed it didn't matter whether boats were brought to Christmas Island or the mainland since a High Court ruling last year that Australian law applied to both.

''Whether people are now processed under the onshore regime or offshore regime … people must now be assessed under Australian law and can seek judicial scrutiny,'' Mr Manne said.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has said diverting boats from Christmas Island was a temporary move and would still see asylum seekers processed under the offshore regime.

theage.com.au