United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees has adopted the following definition of a refugee (in Article 1.A.2):
"[A]ny person who: owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country".
So in reality absolutely anybody can qualify for a refugee status under this definition.
Therefore the 90% as reported in the previous March quarter as being "genuine refugees" is open to argument.
"Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor said the figures showed the way Australia makes refugee status determinations should be reviewed."
