GLOBAL COMPACT FOR MIGRATION

Australia is the most successful immigration nation on earth.

The rest of the world looks to Australia as an example of how to effectively manage borders and run a successful migration and humanitarian program.

That’s why when we are asked to sign up to international agreements that we believe will compromise our successful way of doing things, we will pass.

That’s why we have decided that Australia will not adopt the Global Compact for Migration in mid-December.

We believe that the Compact is inconsistent with our well-established policies and not in Australia’s interest.

We do not believe that adopting this agreement will add anything to enhancing our capacity to control our borders and manage our successful immigration program.

The Compact was promoted as way to promote safe, orderly and regular migration. We already achieve all of these goals.

We also believe that adopting the Compact would directly conflict with important principles that have underpinned our successful approach.

The Compact fails to adequately distinguish between people who enter Australia illegally and those who come to Australia the right way, particularly with respect to the provision of welfare and other benefits.

This is inconsistent with the management of Australia’s strong and orderly migration program under the Liberal National Government.

The Compact would risk encouraging illegal entry to Australia and reverse Australia’s hard-won successes in combating the people smuggling trade.

It would also be used by those who have sought to undermine Australia’s strong border protection laws and practices.

Australia is a nation built on migration. We have a long and successful history of well-managed migration that is designed to meet Australia’s economic and social needs.

Our settlement programs, focused on integration and inclusion, are the best in the world.

Australia will continue to strengthen our responses to people smuggling and human trafficking, promote regional cooperation and reinforce the obligation of countries to accept the return of their nationals.

Australia remains strongly committed to the Bali Process and similar regional cooperation to prevent people smuggling. We deeply value our partnerships in the region.

We will continue to make decisions in Australia’s best interest.