The Pacific Solution (Strategy)

Aim: The 'Pacific Solution' or 'Pacific Strategy' aims to prevent unauthorised boat arrivals from reaching the Australian mainland and making refugee applications. The Australian Government developed this strategy in September 2001 in response to the 'Tampa' issue.

How: It involved removing or 'excising' certain parts of Australian Territory - Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands - from Australia's 'migration zone'.

Implications: This means people landing in these places cannot make refugee applications without permission from the Minister for Immigration. Instead, they are transferred to a 'declared country', such as the Pacific island nation of Nauru or Manus Province in Papua New Guinea, while their applications are assessed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Australian Government.

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