CANBERRA, Australia — A newly elected independent lawmaker said on Monday a tough policy toward asylum seekers was a major reason Australia’s conservative government lost its parliamentary majority. The high-profile medical doctor and gay rights advocate will take her seat when Parliament resumes on Nov. 26. Australia refuses to allow asylum seekers who attempt to reach its shores by boat to ever settle in the country. Asylum seekers are banished to the poor island nations of Nauru and Papua New Guinea where some have languished for more than five years. A government envoy said last week that Australia hoped to have all the asylum seeker children on Nauru brought to the Australian mainland by the end of the year.

Source: National Post November 05, 2018 03:45 UTC