The Australian government is concerned with the huge backlog of applications from Fijians seeking asylum in Australia.

According to Radio Australia, Australia's Senate Estimates Committee has been told that a large number of Fijians wanting to stay in Australia as refugees has created a backlog in the overall processing of reviews of asylum seeker and general migration claims.

It said the admission backs reports from refugee advocates of a sharp rise in Fijians seeking asylum.

A senior member of Australia's Migration and Refugee Review Tribunals has told the senate committee in Canberra he is concerned that there are now more than 2,000 review cases that are more than twelve months old.

Denis O'Brien said migration review cases are being delayed because of the spike in Refugee Review lodgements which he said are up 47 per cent for the first quarter of 2009 10 compared with the same quarter the previous year.

He said they have had a large number of review applications in relation to Fiji, Fiji applicants which is probably the most significant factor that's impacted upon the increase in the numbers.

In a panel discussion on Radio Australia's Pacific Beat in August, several Fijian over stayers and Sydney based Fijian church minister, Livai Leone, told Bruce Hill that there is a sizable number seeking political asylum.

In subsequent reports, and following the death of Fijian asylum seeker in detention in September, criticism has come from some Fijians who say they fled their country for Australia only to have their applications to be recognised as asylum seekers rejected.


Story by: Roneel Lal