Asylum Seekers from Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran Cry as Indonesian Officers Force Them to Leave the Australian Vessel Hermia
IN PHOTO: Asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran cry as Indonesian officers force them to leave the Australian vessel Hermia docked at Indah Kiat port in Merak, Indonesia's Banten province in this April 9, 2012 file photo. REUTERS/Aulia Pratama

Australia has sealed access to its borders as Immigration Minister Scott Morrison announced that the government will no longer resettle asylum seekers registered with the UN refugee agency in Indonesia. Those who had registered before July 1 will not be allowed to come to Australia.

According to The Guardian, Morrison said Australia was "taking the sugar off the table" and stopping people from thinking they can wait in Indonesia to get to the country. He told ABC that Indonesia is becoming a "transit country" used by people-smugglers. He believes the move will stop asylum seekers from going to Indonesia as well.

The newly announced measure will reportedly not lower Australia's annual refugee intake under the government's humanitarian programme. The current number of refugees Australia stands at 13,750 with 11,000 resettled abroad. Morrison said the new policy will motivate people to stay in countries where they first sought asylum.

Australia's immigration minister said the government remains committed to uphold the UN refugee convention, but people smugglers have been "abusing" it. He added that the refugee convention was not ratified so others can go "forum shopping." Morrison dodged the question when asked if the matter was discussed when Prime Minister Tony Abbott met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the G20 summit in Brisbane.

Reports said Mr Widodo was recently sworn in as Indonesia's leader. He warned Australia that Indonesia will no longer tolerate the navy incursions in its waters during boat turnbacks. The Australian Labour Party has already sought an urgent meeting on the issue from Morrison's office and the UNHCR.

Richard Marles, the opposition's immigration spokesperson, said Labour believes Australia has an obligation to be "generous and humane" to others seeking refuge. He talked about regional cooperation being important to achieve a long-term solution to the issue and revealed Labour was willing to increase Australia's refugee intake to 20,000.

Elaine Pearson from the Human Rights Watch offered the same view when she said that Australia should be taking more asylum seekers from Indonesia to save more lives. Australia Greens spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young slammed Morrison's announcement as "hard-hearted" and "narrow-minded," reports said.