Immigration conference closes in Bali

The largest international conference on illegal immigration was drawing to a close in Bali today, with promises of tougher laws and closer police co-operation to combat people smuggling.

‘‘There’s been a general agreement that people smuggling should be criminalised and that we co-operate with each other on extradition and mutual assistance,’’ said Australian justice minister Chris Ellison.

The three-day conference in Indonesia that brought together 37 nations from Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific, was due to conclude with a set of recommendations on how to tackle people trafficking and related crimes.

The proposals are to be discussed at a follow-up conference in Australia next year.