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The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has rejected criticisms of its policies by the UN special rapporteur François Crépeau.

Last week Crépeau wrapped up an 18-day official visit to Australia with a highly critical assessment of some of the federal government’s immigration policies.

In a statement released today, the department welcomed Crépeau’s “cooperative engagement” but said it did not accept some of his preliminary observations “on Australia’s compliance with international obligations and human rights principles”.

In particular, we reject the special rapporteur’s characterisation of the human rights situation for all migrants in Australia.

The human rights expert had said Australia’s immigration policies had eroded human rights and tarnished the country’s reputation and, while some other policies were laudable, he singled out prolonged and indefinite detention, temporary protection visas, lack of access to health and justice services and punitive action against asylum seekers as “regressive and [falling] way behind international standards”.

The department said Australia had a longstanding history of promoting and protecting human rights, and was a “world leader” in investing in refugees with responsive settlement services:



Public confidence in migration and refugee intakes is strongest when the department provides safe pathways for those most in need, rather than unsafe pathways offered by people smugglers to those who can pay.

Australia’s humanitarian dividend has been possible due to the success of Operation Sovereign Borders. It is Australia’s view that strong border security measures, including mandatory detention, ensures the integrity of Australia’s migration programmes.

The department accused Crépeau of factual inaccuracies which it suggested he did not give it an opportunity to respond to.

For example, Australia guarantees that all asylum claims are thoroughly examined through an individual assessment conducted by trained and highly experienced protection decision makers, with reference to Australia’s domestic laws, international non-refoulement obligations and contemporary and comprehensive country information.”

Crépeau had also said the temporary nature of some visas also let migrants open to exploitation, and called for better oversight, but the immigration department said Australia had rigorous legal protection regimes and employers were subject to monitoring.

You can read the department’s response in full here.