(CNN) -- In the fight against Ebola, Australia has said: No thanks. Immigration Minister Scott Morrison announced "strong controls" on arrivals from West African countries affected by cases of the deadly disease. Telling Australia's parliament during a question time session Monday that his ministry was currently "not processing any application from these (Ebola) affected countries," he said that the government was also suspending its humanitarian program. He added that holders of permanent Australian visas based in these countries would be subject to a mandatory, three-week quarantine process prior to their departure. Visitors approved to travel to Australia will also face further screening and followup checks upon arrival.
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Australia implements freeze on visas from West African countries affected by Ebola
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Move criticized by parliamentary opposition
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PM Abbott defends decision, saying the country has been active in fight against deadly disease
Concerns are being raised that the @placeholder response is largely engineered to create political capital, particularly given the country's well-documented hard line on immigration.