Tampa affair

Common card · No. 349698

In late August 2001, the Howard government of Australia refused permission for the Norwegian freighter MV Tampa, carrying 433 rescued refugees (predominantly Hazaras of Afghanistan) from a distressed fishing vessel in international waters and 5 crew, to enter Australian waters. This triggered an Australian political controversy in the lead-up to the 2001 federal election, and a diplomatic dispute between Australia and Norway. When Tampa entered Australian waters, the Prime Minister ordered the ship be boarded by Australian special forces. This brought censure from the government of Norway, which said the Australian government failed to meet its obligations to distressed mariners under international law at the United Nations. Within a few days, the government introduced the Border Protection Bill into the House of Representatives, saying it would confirm Australian sovereignty to "determine who will enter and reside in Australia". The government introduced the "Pacific Solution", whereby...

Read on Wikipedia · Image TAMPA ENTERS AUSTRALIAN WATERS WITH 433 ASYLUM SEEKERS ON BOARD provided by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), CC BY-SA 3.0 au