Australia finalises 'Pacific Solution' asylum cases

16/05/2008 14:41:55

Australia's immigration minister says he has nearly finalised the cases involving a large number of long-term detainees who have been held for up to six years.

Chris Evans says he has decided what will happen to the 72 asylum seekers, but not all have been notified.

The government is scrapping the so-called Pacific Solution scheme as part of its election promise made last November.

The scheme was set up by the previous Howard government, which negotiated with a number of neighbouring countries in the Pacific region, including Nauru, to establish offshore detention centres.

Mr Evans has also announced that all refugees on temporary protection visas will be granted permanent residency.

He says the scrapping of the scheme will not lead to more asylum seekers entering the country.

"People who apply will be treated under the normal program, so it doesn't increase the size of the family reunion program or the humanitarian program," he said.

"But there are just short of a thousand people still on temporary protection visas in this country, so that's a thousand people who'll be granted permanent residency."

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