Editorial Board
Australia’s Dangerous New Refugee Policy
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Papua New Guinea is a struggling nation that ranks near the bottom of most indexes of human and economic development. It is also, as of this month, the new home of anyone who tries to reach Australia by boat to claim asylum.
That makes Australia the latest country to tighten the rules for those fleeing persecution. Beyond questions over whether the move will work and whether it’s legal, Australia’s decision raises a broader concern: Is the international commitment to refugee rights, which underlies the 1951 refugee treaty, starting to weaken?