Labor's advertising campaign, recorded in eight different languages, warns asylum seekers that if they come to Australia by boat they will not be allowed to stay.
Would-be asylum seekers are helped off a Sri Lankan naval craft at the northeastern port of Trincomalee after their boat was intercepted off the island's eastern coast. Source: AFP
A NEW influx of Sri Lankan asylum seekers is defying expensive government measures to turn them back, amid revelations $30 million in taxpayers' cash could be spent advertising the PNG deal.
The new spending emerged a day after the Government sent 40 single adult men to Manus Island for resettlement in PNG with families to remain in Australia, potentially for months, while facilities are improved.
Almost 2000 Sri Lankans have arrived on boats so far this year with the new influx coming after the government spent hundreds of thousands of dollars flying hundreds home to Colombo in the past 12 months.
The turn backs by air had been declared successful but in addition to the arrivals, Sri Lanka's Navy has intercepted or rescued almost 700 people attempting to leave the country this year.
Other Sri Lankan families have been devastated in boat tragedies this month with multiple deaths, including of children.
Almost 200 people, including babies and children, have been rescued from stricken vessels close to Sri Lanka in the past two weeks.
The Navy said in one incident involving a boat carrying 17 children that without the quick response of a merchant vessel "precious lives would have perished in deep sea."
"The shift in policy that matters isn't whether or not some people are flown back, it's whether or not a new rule can be applied to everyone. And that's why the Government is determined that none of the people who come by boat without a visa will ever be settled in Australia," Immigration Minister Tony Burke said yesterday of the new Sri Lankan influx.
Mr Burke defended the huge advertising spend on the PNG deal, calling the first $2.1 million wave of spending out of a potential $30 million, "an effective and targeted way of ensuring individuals who are in the pipeline for people smuggling operations hear about and understand Australia's new rules."
He has authorised $4.59 million be spent but a letter from the Auditor-General to Independent Senator Nick Xenophon confirmed the total spending could reach $30 million.
"This is targeted to the vote people, not the boat people," Mr Xenophon said.
Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said the new Sri Lankan influx was not surprising.
"Just as well Sri Lanka is prepared to turn back boats, because Labor never will. Labor haven't lifted a finger to help Sri Lanka turn back boats," he said.
"The Coalition understands you need to put all the measures in place to stop the boats, including turn backs and Nauru, and not just rely on one element like PNG.
"Labor's PNG bluff is a two page election fix that has already cost Australian taxpayers almost $500 million in hospitals, roads and universities in PNG, without resettling one person. It makes the five for one Malaysia people swap look like a good deal."
The Opposition in PNG yesterday launched a new legal challenge against the Manus Island processing centre after a previous attempt came to nothing.
A new vessel with 75 on board, almost twice the number sent to Manus Island, arrived by boat yesterday.
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