‘Asylum seekers arriving by boat not to be allowed to become Australian residents’

ANKARA (AA) – Australia’s new prime minister has said that his government has no plans to change the country’s refugee policy and that asylum seekers arriving by boat would not be allowed to become residents.

According to an official statement, Anthony Albanese has said that Australia’s ‘Operation Sovereign Borders’ system remained in place.

“People arriving by boat will not be settled here. Very clearly, our system is in place for Operation Sovereign Borders. People smugglers seek to trade in misery,” Albanese said.

His statement came after a Sri Lankan refugee intercepted by authorities on a boat bound for Australia said smugglers were telling people in Sri Lanka that Albanese’s government was refugee-friendly and allowing asylum seekers to enter the country.

“We will be strong on borders without being weak on humanity . . . . We will do as Australia has done for a long period of time,” he added.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil arrived in Sri Lanka on June 20 to discuss the illegal transportation of people by smugglers through sea routes.

“We understand that there are issues in Sri Lanka and that the wrong messages are being given by people smugglers. Our message will be very clear,” said the prime minister.