The Wire

Immigration Minister Chris Evans may be even tougher than his liberal party predecessors. The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Melbourne says he has rejected more than 97% of requests for ministerial interventions presented to his department. As a last resort asylum seekers can appeal to the minister for refugee status, but often the requests are rejected. The minister has acknowledged his reluctance to ‘play God,’ but is in agreement with refugee NGOs on the need to amend immigration legislation.