Kevin Rudd to send asylum seekers to Papua New Guinea

The Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has said that no further asylum seekers arriving in Australia by boat will be allowed to settle there as refugees.

As part of an overhaul of immigration policy ahead of a general election, Mr Rudd announced a one-year agreement with the government of Papua New Guinea, under which asylum seekers would be sent there for assessment instead.

Mr Rudd said he had a responsibility to ensure Australia had a robust system of border security while meeting its legal obligations under the refugee convention.