the consequences of a far right government tinkering with the visa system

[SydneyRover]

From Australia: the consequences of a far right government tinkering with the visa system to prove how tough it is.

“As that continues, along with the wilful ignorance on the part of the government, the exploitation of these vulnerable people – a developing economic underclass – will only continue to grow.

“Plain and simple – this is a work scam.”

''A surge in asylum claims from Chinese nationals arriving on tourist visas following a government change to the visa system is further proof of the “dire” state of Australia’s migration system, Labor’s shadow home affairs minister, Kristina Keneally, says.

In a speech to the Law Council of Australia’s immigration law conference on Friday, Keneally will release new figures showing that since the government allowed the online lodgement of tourist visas for Chinese nationals, there has been an almost 700% increase in the number of people arriving by air from China and claiming asylum.

In the 12 months after online lodgement was introduced, from March 2017 to February 2018, 7,304 Chinese nationals on tourist visas made claims for asylum compared to just 1,060 in the 12 months prior.

From February 2017 to September 2019, the total number of Chinese nationals to have claimed asylum is 13,462''

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/mar/06/keneally-says-surge-in-visitors-on-tourist-visas-claiming-asylum-exposes-dire-system