In October this year, Australia finally got a seat on the UN Human Rights Council after years of sustained pressure over its own human rights record. Now, Alexander Downer, Australia's High Commissioner to the UK, defends his country's hard line on refugees and asylum seekers; "We don't take people who try to get to Australia by paying smugglers."

Conflict Zone is Deutsche Welle's top political interview. Every week, our hosts Tim Sebastian and Michel Friedman are face-to-face with global decision-makers, seeking straight answers to straight questions, putting the spotlight on controversial issues and calling the powerful to account.

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