Australia's extraterritorial border control policies

Australia has instigated extreme extraterritorial border control policies to deter and deny people from entering its territory without permission. These include financial penalties for airline carriers who transport people without authority (including refugees); the use of Australian staff in foreign airports to assist in identifying people without permission to travel to Australia; utilization of surveillance technologies; interception of boats suspected of carrying people without permission to Australia; and the processing and detention of people arriving irregularly by boat in the pacific nations of Papua New Guinea and Nauru. Australia’s extraterritorial policies risk the return of refugees to countries where they fear persecution in contravention of Australia’s international obligations and result in the detention of vulnerable people in violation of international law. Australia’s excessive policies also undermine the international protection regime by setting a harmful example for other states who wish to deny refugees protection. Australia’s extraterritorial practices must be dismantled to ensure Australia complies with its international obligations. Australia should serve as a warning against the harmful impact of extraterritorial border control policies rather than an inspiration for any state considering adopting similar measures.