According to the latest reforms released by Immigration Minister Chris Evans today, the majority of asylum seekers will no longer be detained under major immigration reforms. According to Chris Evans, the government intends to scrap mandatory detention of immigrants who overstay their Visa’s.

He adds that asylum seekers and people caught overstaying their visas will be detained only if they pose a risk to the community. According to Evans, the Government will not completely scrap mandatory detention but the Department of Immigration will have to justify why a person should be detained.

"A person who poses no danger to the community will be able to remain in the community while their visa status is resolved," said Senator Evans when asked to comment on the issue.

He also justified the need to end indefinite detention by saying that "Labor rejects the notion that dehumanizing and punishing unauthorized arrivals with long-term detention is an effective or civilized response," and "Desperate people are not deterred by the threat of harsh detention - they are often fleeing much worse circumstances."

Evans assured reporters that the aim was not to open wide Australia’s gates to illegal immigrants but warned that inappropriate and degrading treatment of asylum seekers was unacceptable.

“We think this will allow us to maintain strong border security but also treat people with human dignity." Said Immigration Minister Chris Evans.

Under the new scheme, the immigration department will have to justify every three months why a one is being detained.

Australia currently has 385 people detained under the immigration detention policy.

Source Courier Mail