Boat people numbers plunge

By MICHAEL MADIGAN

30jan02

The Daily Telegraph

AUSTRALIA'S controversial stance on illegal immigration has stemmed the flow of boat people to our shores even as it draws condemnation from around the world, secret intelligence reports show.

The people-smuggling trade in Indonesia is in disarray as asylum seekers abandon plans to sail to Australia.

Images of violent protests and desperate acts by the refugees have apparently dissuaded many from attempting to come here.

Details of the Federal Government intelligence reports, obtained by The Daily Telegraph, show asylum seekers are refusing to pay the $10,000 fares for the dangerous crossing.

No boat people arrived in Australia in December or January.

In December 2000 more than 700 illegal immigrants arrived, followed by a further 230 the following January.

Graphic images of Woomera detention centre burning and boat people jumping into the ocean, which have been seen around the world in recent months, have proved a far more powerful deterrent than last year's multimillion-dollar advertising campaigning warning asylum seekers of snakes and unfriendly terrain.

A spokesman for Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock said people smugglers were still offering services throughout Indonesia. But it was becoming common knowledge the passengers would not reach mainland Australia, he said.

"Given that the people smugglers have not been able to deliver, they are in some disarray," the spokesman said.

An Immigration Department spokesman said details of intelligence reports remained confidential. But he revealed evidence existed showing people smugglers were finding the current environment difficult to operate in.

Their cruel trade has suffered a huge drop in interest.

"The information suggests many people are refusing to meet the high cost of illegal travel when there is no guarantee of reaching the Australian mainland," the spokesman said.

Immigration Department officials have continued to visit Indonesian fishing villages warning of penalties for people smugglers.

Australian Federal Police declined to comment on the state of the people-smuggling trade.

By the time the freighter MS Tampa arrived late last August carrying ship wrecked asylum seekers, 3694 boat people had arrived.

After Australia's widely publicised refusal to allow the Tampa into Australia a further 1800 arrived, but were diverted to other countries. No more boat people have arrived since November. Mr Ruddock's spokesman said the monsoon season which can discourage smugglers had not affected numbers over the past two Decembers.

"In the past we had more than 700 arriving in December," he said.

But he said it was too early to claim outright victory over people smugglers.

Prime Minister John Howard said the cost of sending asylum seekers offshore may now be less than initial estimates of $285 million.

But Mr Howard said he was not sure what the new estimate would be.

Mr Howard rejected suggestions the Woomera detention centre may be closed.

"Nobody likes what is occurring at present but there is no alternative and we're working in a sensible way to try and talk to people in the detention centre and point out the futility of what is occurring," he said.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said protesters were hardening public opinion against asylum seekers.

"Never, never deal with Australians by threatening them," he said.

"You can threaten a lot of countries, but you never want to threaten Australians."

Meanwhile, Australia's peak mental health body said yesterday it was concerned

the Federal Government was ignoring recommendations from its detention centre advisory group.

The Mental Health Council of Australia said it was also concerned that recommendations to the Government from the Independent Detention Advisory Group (IDAG) were not being made public.

IDAG representatives yesterday returned to the Woomera detention centre, in South Australia's north, in a bid to end an ongoing hunger strike by asylum seekers.

Council chairman John McGrath said he was concerned at inadequate support for the mental and physical health of detainees at Woomera.

"The very fact that this matter remains unresolved is a serious concern," he said in a statement.