Australia to detain tourists who overstay visas

Australia will detain tourists who overstay visas under new rules aimed at reducing migration levels, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Matt Thistlethwaite said Friday.

The government announced reforms Thursday that include stopping family members accompanying students, introducing ballots for working holiday makers and cracking down on people who overstay visas.

Thistlethwaite said visa overstayers had risen to 77,000. He told broadcaster News24 that detention would act as a deterrent and that people without the right to remain in Australia would face a consequence and be removed.

Immigration Minister Tony Burke said Thursday that the government would open 250 beds and add 100 compliance officers to house visa overstayers in different facilities.

Australian Tourism Industry Council chief executive Erin McLeod told AFP that talk of detaining tourists could damage Australia's reputation as a welcoming destination. Refugee Council of Australia policy director Rebecca Eckard told AFP that the move raised safety and legal concerns and said punitive detention was not permitted under Australia's immigration law.