Scott Morrison’s office says Iraq’s Christians and Yazidis can try for visas, but asylum seekers have been urged to return to Syria

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

The Australian government will allow Iraqi Christians and Yazidis fleeing conflict in Iraq to apply for a visa under a humanitarian scheme announced in the budget.



The “special humanitarian program” (SHP) is designed to “target those in most need around the world including the Middle East”, a spokeswoman for the immigration minister, Scott Morrison, said.

Previous reports had suggested the Australian government had set up a new scheme for those fleeing conflict in Iraq and Syria.

Since assuming office the Coalition has slashed Australia’s formal intake of refugees from 20,000 under the previous government to 13,750. According to the most recent United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) statistics Australia took the second largest number of refugees under the UN’s humanitarian resettlement program in 2013, but is home to just 0.3% of UN recognised refugees.

Australia houses Syrian and Iraqi asylum seekers in offshore detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru. The government has offered repatriation to five Syrians detained on Manus, drawing widespread condemnation from human rights groups.

The UNHCR advises that all displaced Syrians should be afforded a form of protection and at least three of the Syrians on Manus were showing signs of severe mental health problems.

A spokeswoman for the immigration minister said the government was “deeply concerned by the ongoing crisis in Iraq”.

“Last year more than 1,000 places were provided to people and families affected by the Syrian conflict, under our refugee and special humanitarian program at the direction of the Abbott government,” the spokeswoman said.

“The minister and his department are closely monitoring the situation and considering options under the offshore humanitarian program to assist the victims of this crisis.”