The criminalisation of asylum seekers in Australia

Throughout the 1990s and into the 200 period, the Australian government implemented a range of legeslative measure directed at deterring and preventing asylum seekers from arriving on its shores. These policies were accompanied by political discourse which 'depicted' asylum seeks as 'criminals' or 'queue jumpers' who posed a threat to Australian society and were therefore unworthy of Australia's compassion and 'citizenship' rights. The same period was also marked by a growth of security policies across Australia.