Australia: 'Tampa' court ruling

Briefing notes

Australia: 'Tampa' court ruling

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Kris Janowski – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

11 September 2001

A statement issued by UNHCR Canberra today notes the decision by the Federal Court of Australia with regard to the asylum seekers transferred from the Norwegian ship Tampa to the Australian naval vessel HMAS Manoora and that the Federal Court has ordered the return of these asylum seekers to Australia. UNHCR hopes that this decision will now herald the end of the two-week ordeal of the asylum seekers rescued at sea by the Tampa on 26 August 2001 and that these persons will now be granted speedy access to fair and effective procedures for determining their status and protection needs in Australia, without further delay.