SYDNEY -- Australian Immigration Minister Philip
                 Ruddock leaves on Monday on a two-week trip to
                 Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Iran and Pakistan, in an effort to
                 stem the escalating people-smuggling racket.

                 He will meet government ministers and officials to
                 discuss cooperative measures to stop the global
                 problem, which has seen an influx of boat people
                 arriving in Australia over the past 12 months.

                 "I certainly hope that my visit will lead to a situation
                 where officials from Australia and these countries will be
                 able to work together cooperatively," he said.

                 "We'll be able to build a relationship where the
                 information we obtain can be shared, and the
                 information that they have may be made available to us."

                 Mr Ruddock said that some of the countries he was
                 visiting had for years dealt with massive refugee
                 populations from countries like Iraq and Afghanistan.

                 "If we are going to look at the push and pull factors that
                 influence people-smuggling and unlawful entry to
                 Australia, then you need to focus on not only the relative
                 attractiveness of Australia as a destination, but also
                 some of the factors that lead people to embark on what
                 are very hazardous voyages," he said.

                 Stronger legislation enacted in Australia late last year
                 would send a robust message to prospective travellers
                 and smugglers, and the trip would be used to explain the
                 laws in detail, he added.

                 Some 1,200 Iraqis and 1,100 Afghans arrived in
                 Australia last year. As well as talks with government
                 ministers and officials, Mr Ruddock plans to meet
                 representatives from the United Nations High
                 Commission for Refugees, the International Organisation
                 for Migration and the Red Cross. -- AFP

                       Adapted from The Straits Times, 8 Jan 2000.