New Immigration Policy Change Allows Boat Refugees to Bring Family Members to Australia

Under the measure, the Australian government will send boat refugees to a third country and keep them there while processing their claims.
Refugees with a valid claim will then be settled in another advanced country, such as New Zealand or the United States.
At the time, the Australian government said the measure would prevent smugglers from sending boats to Australia and ensure a fair and orderly migration system.
It was unclear why there was a delay, although Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil was reportedly informed about the issue in December 2022.
However, given the bill needs approval from both houses of the parliament, it is expected to take another two months to fix the gap in national security.
Meanwhile, the Opposition criticised the Labor government for the delay, saying it left a hole in Australia’s border system.