Despite its $160 million package to better manage asylum seekers, time is running out for the Albanese Government to get on top of the asylum seeker issue prior to the 2025 election.
Asylum applications at both the primary and AAT stages fell in December 2023 but the number of applications processed also fell leading to an increase in backlogs at both levels. The additional funding allocated to process asylum applications faster at both levels has not yet taken effect. Removal rates for unsuccessful asylum seekers remain low.
There were 1,942 primary asylum applications in December 2023, down from 2,196 in November 2023 and 2,322 in October 2023. The main source nations remained largely stable with 371 from Vietnam (Government has cranked up refusal rates for visitors and students from Vietnam to try and stem the high rate of asylum........