Fed: Vanstone defends decision to allow deportations to Iran

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2004
Fed: Vanstone defends decision to allow deportations to Iran

Immigration Minister AMANDA VANSTONE has defended her decision to allow Iranian citizens
to be forcibly deported from Australia.

In February, Senator VANSTONE said she had no immediate plans to deport Iranian asylum
seekers who failed to be granted refugee status.

The government was criticised for this week deporting an Iranian man who the Uniting
Church said could be persecuted, tortured or killed in his native country.

Australian Democrats Senator ANDREW BARTLETT says Senator VANSTONE should live up to
her assurance that Iranians would not be forcibly deported while Iran's security situation
remained unstable.

But Senator VANSTONE'S denied she promised to never forcibly deport Iranians from Australia.

AAP RTV pj/gjr

KEYWORD: DEPORT (CANBERRA)

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