Australia's Policy to Halt the Boats

How the Policy Works

Australia's boat turnbacks policy, also known as Operation Sovereign Borders, is a maritime border protection strategy implemented since 2013. The policy involves intercepting and turning back unauthorized vessels carrying asylum seekers approaching Australian territorial waters.

Key Aspects

• Vessels are intercepted by the Australian Border Force.
• Asylum seekers are transferred to offshore detention facilities in Papua New Guinea or Nauru.
• The policy aims to deter unauthorized maritime arrivals and reduce the number of asylum seekers reaching Australia.

Controversy and Outcomes

The policy has been criticized by human rights groups for its harsh treatment of asylum seekers. However, it has been credited with deterring unauthorized boat arrivals. The number of asylum seekers arriving by boat has significantly decreased since the policy's implementation.

In 2019, the Australian government announced that it would close the offshore detention facilities on Nauru and Manus Island. This decision was met with mixed reactions, with some advocating for its closure and others expressing concerns about the fate of the asylum seekers.