Australia's Operation Sovereign Borders

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Sri Lanka charged asylum seekers sent back by Australia with leaving the country illegally



Australia's two leading political parties, the ruling Liberal-National coalition and the Labor opposition, both support tough asylum policies.

They say the journey the asylum seekers make is dangerous and controlled by criminal gangs, and they have a duty to stop it.

The coalition government made Australia's asylum policy even tougher when it took power in 2013, introducing Operation Sovereign Borders, which put the military in control of asylum operations.

Under this policy military vessels patrol Australian waters and intercept migrant boats, towing them back to Indonesia or sending asylum seekers back in inflatable dinghies or lifeboats.

The government says its policies have restored the integrity of its borders, and helped prevent deaths at sea.

Australia asylum: Why is it controversial?

 

[mudwhistle]

I guess we need to build a moat.

 

[barryqwalsh]

THE Australian government says stopping the boats has saved taxpayers $A3.5 billion.

But it’s hard to work out just how much money has been spent on border protection since the Coalition Government came to power in 2013 and exactly where the savings have come from.

Operation Sovereign Borders was launched on September 18, 2013 as a military-led border security operation aimed at stopping maritime people smuggling to Australia and reasserting the country’s



Claims Australia’s boat policy saves money