Australia drops harsh asylum policy

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Source: al Jazeera and agencies



The Australian government has abandoned the country's controversial policy of jailing all asylum seekers.

Mandatory detention will now only apply to those who pose a risk to society or who breach their visa conditions.

Children and their families will no longer be held in detention centres, Chris Evans, immigration minister, said on Tuesday.

The immigration department would have to justify the detention of any refugees every three months, and an ombudsman would review cases of anyone held for more than six months, Evans said.

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2008/07/20087297936427189.html