Immigration Minister Chris Evans said the government would temporarily suspend processing of all new visa applications from asylum seekers from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, as a boat carrying would-be refugees sank offshore.

“The changes we are announcing today send a strong message to people smugglers that they cannot guarantee a visa outcome for their clients, and a message to those seeking to employ people smugglers that they may find themselves not to be refugees and returned to their country of origin.”

The government said Sri Lanka was rebuilding after decades of conflict while the situation in Afghanistan, which is beset by a violent insurgency, was nevertheless changing and security improving in parts.

Evans refused to speculate on whether the changes would stem the flood of desperate asylum seekers who make their way to Australia, often in rickety boats which embark from Indonesia or elsewhere in Asia.

“We still expect boats to arrive,” he said, but added that the administration hoped it would have an impact on people smuggling “over time”.