The PM claimed on 7:30 that people arriving by plane in Australia need to pass a ‘character test’, thereby implying that a lesser risk is posed by asylum seekers arriving by air than there is by asylum seekers arriving by boat. Let’s examine that statement...

Australia operates a ‘universal visa’ system, which means that any foreigner that visits here for whatever reason needs to have a valid visa approved by the Department of Home Affairs.

Visas come in a variety of forms. Student, Business, Tourist, Partner, Protection, Skilled, Semi-Skilled, Working Holiday etc. Visas range in validity from 3 months to 10 years.