![]() The Australian government has also briefed Indonesian, Malaysian and Sri Lankan officials about the visa charges with the aim of securing their cooperation to stop people smugglers from operating boats for asylum seekers to Australia. It was reported by The Australian that the visa changes had already sparked the interest of people smugglers.Ī boat operator in Sri Lanka told the paper he had been speaking to contacts in Australia about organising a new voyage. ![]() Previously people on those visas had no certainty about their future in Australia and were denied access to welfare payments including Medicare and could not apply for immigration family reunion rights for relatives. The navy has told parliament it is rushing ships to patrol northern Australian waters over fears the Albanese government's changes to visas could restart people smuggling (pictured navy boats patrolling Australia's northern approaches in 2009) ![]() The Albanese government this week announced that the 19,000 asylum seekers on Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEV) and Temporary Protection Visas (TPVS) would be given permanent residency - following through on a promise made during the federal election campaign. The surge has been put in place in the last few weeks.' 'But it is of the nature of additional aircraft surveillance and additional ships that are patrolling in our northern waters. 'I won't specify the nature of the surge because it is responding to the circumstance that the Commander of Sovereign Borders has asked us for,' Vice Admiral Johnston told the Senate Estimates committee. ![]() Vice Admiral David Johnston told parliament on Tuesday the navy had been providing 'surge' support for the past few weeks at the request of the commander of Operation Sovereign Borders. The navy has rushed ships and planes to patrol Australia's northern waters over fears the Albanese government's decision to allow 19,000 temporary visa holders to stay forever could reignite the explosive issue of people smuggling. ![]()
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