Refugees and Asylum Seekers: Facts and Myths

An asylum seeker is someone who has been forced to flee their country due to persecution.

Asylum seekers who arrive by boat are illegal.

Asylum seekers are just after a better job.

If asylum seekers can afford to get here, they don't need protection.

It is too difficult for asylum seekers to get help from the United Nations (UN) in their own country.

You can seek asylum from within your own country.

There are about 2 million refugees in the world today.

Australia protect less than 0.1 per cent of the world's refugees.

Asylum seekers seeking refuge in Australia make up 20 per cent of Australia's total migration.

In 2010, Sweden had the highest number of asylum seekers.