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.

The announcement that no refugees will be accepted from West Africa must be overturned, the Australian Greens have said.

"While the government drags its feet in responding to the Ebola crisis, Scott Morrison has slammed the door on West African refugees," the Greens' immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

"The immigration minister's crusade against those in need has spread to West Africa and is simply unacceptable.

"This miserly, selfish and cruel announcement from the government is not a reflection of our nation's character."

'Make advice public'

The main opposition party called on the government to make the advice that informed its policy public.

"We want the government to release the advice on which this decision has been made," Labor's foreign affairs spokesman Matt Thistlethwaite said.

"We need to be absolutely certain that this government isn't being tough but dumb when it comes to protecting Australians from the risk of Ebola infection at home," Thistlethwaite was quoted by the ABC as saying.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott defended the government's decision, pointing to an AUS $18 million ($15.9 million) investment to combat the spread of the disease in West Africa, saying his "government are taking very serious steps to address the Ebola crisis."

He added that the Australian authorities "are continuing to talk to our friends and partners about what more might be done to address the situation in West Africa," and that he did "not rule out Australia doing more."

The Australian move follows North Korea's tourist ban, also instigated over fears of the spread of the disease.

(CNN)