Australia's asylum policies and their discriminatory treatments against unauthorized maritime arrivals

The Australian government has long been criticized for its harsh treatment and policies towards boat people, legally known as “unauthorized maritime arrivals.” This paper focuses on several of Australia’s asylum policies in the period of 1989 to 2011 to understand why they have implemented discriminatory treatments and policies towards boat people. These programs include the Mandatory Detention Program, Pacific Solution program, Temporary Protection Visa, and Australia-Malaysia People Swap. The year 1989 is particularly significant for Australia, as it marked the implementation of the Migration Legislation Amendment Act 1989 which allows authorized officers to arrest and detain anyone suspected of being an ‘illegal entrant’. These policies are seen as controversial and discriminatory in a way that differentiates the mode of arrivals of asylum seekers regardless their valid claims for protection. Those who arrive by boat are considered less deserving of protection than others. Harsh official treatment toward boat people is intended to punish those who already violated the law by illegally crossing the border and, importantly, to send a message intended to stop those who plan to make a similar journey to Australia.M.A.Includes bibliographical referencesby Marina Meinaris War