The policy was developed by the Howard Government in response to the Tampa affair in August 2001, and was implemented by then Australian Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock on 28 September before the 2001 federal election of 24 November.
Kebijakan tersebut dirancang oleh pemerintah Howard setelah skandal Tampa bulan Agustus 2001, dan diterapkan oleh Menteri Imigrasi Australia Philip Ruddock pada tanggal 28 September menjelang pemilu federal 2001 tanggal 24 November.