The Federal Government has announced plans to overhaul its “broken” protection visa system.

The move comes in response to concerns that some individuals, including people traffickers, have exploited the system with false or misleading asylum claims, leading to extensive delays. 

The government says that individuals with “false” asylum claims have managed to stay in Australia for as long as 11 years.

It has earmarked an investment of $160 million to restore integrity to the visa system.

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles has attributed the system's issues to the previous government's policies.

The government says around 90 per cent of protection visa applications are ultimately denied, exacerbating wait times for those genuinely in need of protection.

The decision follows a review by former Victoria Police chief commissioner Christine Nixon (PDF), who found that some individuals strategically made adverse asylum claims, knowing that the lengthy process would allow them to remain in the country for a decade or more.

To address these issues, the government says $160 million will be spent on an overhaul, including $58 million for additional members in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) and Federal Circuit and Family Court judges, $54 million to expedite the processing of new applications by the Department of Home Affairs, and $48 million in funding for legal assistance services.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton questioned the timing of the report's release, just ten days before a crucial referendum vote.

The government says it aims to provide faster decisions to genuine protection seekers while swiftly refusing applications from those attempting to manipulate the system. Over 40 per cent of protection visa applications are filed by individuals who have been in Australia for at least two years.

Currently, the system is in a state of crisis, with tens of thousands of people experiencing extraordinary delays in processing. 

Refugee Legal executive director David Manne estimates that between 25,000 and 30,000 people are awaiting processing by the Department of Home Affairs, with an additional 50,000 stuck in the AAT process.

Advocates, including the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA), have long called for reform. RCOA CEO Paul Power hopes that the government's measures will bring about positive changes, reducing the waiting time for refugee protection decisions.