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TWO former asylum seekers charged with people smuggling have been linked to a boat tragedy off the coast of Indonesia in which hundreds of people died.

The State Government's decision to ease restrictions on hiring foreign workers has drawn both praise and criticism from industry stakeholders.

Asylum seekers arriving by boat will be assessed for refugee status in the same system as air arrivals from Saturday, as the federal government removes one of the last vestiges of the Howard government's Pacific Solution.

THE FEDERAL government is being lobbied for a watchdog to expose unscrupulous employers who oppress and intimidate migrant workers.

Stop the boats is the catchcry of the asylum seeker debate, but the majority of arrivals come to Australia by plane and many are using dodgy documents to gain residence.

THE Immigration Department has suffered another judicial defeat, with the Federal Court's full bench ruling there is no time limit on boat arrivals accessing the courts.

AUSTRALIA will get more labour via temporary visas, after the rules were relaxed recently to allow recruitment agencies to act as sponsors.

THE Immigration Minister, Chris Bowen, will ask the Labor caucus to support a crossbench bid to end the asylum-seeker impasse.