• Indonesian ‘recidivist’ crew are returning for a second or third time to Christmas Island. In the last week alone, TWO crew were identified as recidivists; one has a serious criminal record in Australia. They are returning because there is no longer any penalty for arriving as an Indonesian people smuggler under Australian law (since August 2012)
• Visa applicants in the Middle East are turning up on Christmas Island while their applications are still pending. In several cases over the last year, applicants have arrived on Christmas Island as asylum seekers because they have gotten tired of waiting to be granted, or have been refused. The message across the region is now clear: it is far easier to arrive via Christmas Island than apply through legitimate channels and wait for an outcome
• The department of immigration is aware of a number of person who have arrived on Christmas Island claiming to be Afghan asylum seekers, but are actually Pakistani citizens. Their protection visas have been granted protection on the basis that they are Afghans fleeing persecution. No action has been taken against these persons as yet.
