Vic: Bracks calls for increase in immigration

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2001
Vic: Bracks calls for increase in immigration

Victorian Premier STEVE BRACKS has called for a significant increase in Australia's
immigration intake and an end to the so-called Pacific solution for asylum seekers.

Mr BRACKS has told reporters Australia could easily go back to the levels of the 1950s,
when 100,000 migrants came every year, instead of the 60,000 to 80,000 arrivals at present.

And he says Victoria would be prepared to take a greater share of refugees than other
states as a proportion of its population.

Mr BRACKS says the Pacific solution of sending asylum seekers to island nations for
processing is inappropriate, expensive and unworkable.

AAP RTV bp/szp/gfr/wjf/jh

KEYWORD: BOAT BRACKS (MELBOURNE)

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