Australia abandons asylum policy

The new Australian government has abandoned the country's controversial policy of jailing all asylum seekers.

In a major overhaul of immigration rules, the policy of detaining would-be asylum seekers in often remote jails will now be used only as a last resort.

Children will no longer be held, and adults who are detained will have their situation evaluated every three months.

Immigration Minister Chris Evans called the decision a move towards "more humane" treatment of asylum seekers.

Human rights groups welcomed the announcement.

Amnesty International called the reforms a "welcome step forward" that would bring Australia's system "into line with other Western democracies".