Australia, Papua New Guinea sign deal to tackle asylum seekers

[webfact]

Australia, Papua New Guinea sign deal to tackle asylum seekers
English.news.cn

CANBERRA, (Xinhua) -- Australia and Papua New Guinea ( PNG) have signed an agreement that means no asylum seeker arriving by boat will have any chance of settling in Australia, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his PNG counterpart Peter O'Neill announced on Friday.

Under the agreement, from now on, any asylum seeker who arrives in Australia by boat will have no chance of being settled in Australia as a refugee, they will be sent to Papua New Guinea's Manus Island processing center for assessment of their refugee status.

"If they are found to be genuine refugees, they will be resettled in Papua New Guinea," Rudd said, adding that the arrangement would apply for the next 12 months, and be subject to annual review.

According to Rudd, the plan was part of a multi-layered approach to dealing with people smuggling, and within the legal framework of the refugee convention.

"Critically, the convention requires us not to send genuine refugees back to the countries they have fled from, in this arrangement we honor that undertaking," he said.

"The convention requires us to provide proper humane treatment of people. Under this arrangement, we will do so. Asylum seekers who are determined to be genuine refugees will therefore have a country of settlement, namely Papua New Guinea." Rudd added.

In exchange for PNG's agreement, Australia will fund further aid initiatives, including redeveloping a major referral hospital in Lae, PNG's second largest city, and assisting with its long- term management.

Australia will also deliver half the fund to reform PNG's university sector and in 2014 implement the recommendations of an Australia-PNG education review.

Rudd told reporters in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, that this was a "very hard-line decision". "I understand the different groups in Australia and around the world will see this decision in different ways," he said.

However, he confirmed that Australia's expectation "... is as this regional resettlement arrangement is implemented, and the message is sent loud and clear back up the pipeline, the number of boats will decline over time as asylum seekers then make recourse to other."

"The hopes they (people smugglers) offer their customers for the future are nothing but false hopes," he said.

Full story: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-07/19/c_132556502.htm

-- XINHUA 2013-07-20

[Credo]

Personally, I would probably put up with a fair amount of persecution at home rather than end up in PNG.

This is probably not good news for genuine refugees. If they are screened in, will they be under UNHCR jurisdiction and can they apply or be resettled in another country?

If they are a refugee and have existing family in Australia will they be allowed family reunification?

[theblether]

There was a riot in a detention centre after it was announced that this deal had been done.

If someone told me I was being sent to PNG I would riot too.

[simple1]

Personally, I would probably put up with a fair amount of persecution at home rather than end up in PNG.

This is probably not good news for genuine refugees. If they are screened in, will they be under UNHCR jurisdiction and can they apply or be resettled in another country?

If they are a refugee and have existing family in Australia will they be allowed family reunification?

As the OP states "If they are found to be genuine refugees, they will be resettled in Papua New Guinea" if they decline I imagine that they could request re-settlement in another country by UNHCR, but that would mean being held in detention and current backlog with UNHCR is up to ten years or more.

UNHCR is not a signatory to the bilateral agreement between Australia and Papua New Guinea relating to the processing of asylum seekers

[Suradit69]

Makes the (much whined about) 90 day report for the economic refugees long stay farang in Thailand seem a little less onerous by comparison.

[Chris Lawrence]

A lot is said on this topic in OZ; the pollies appear to have forgotten about the other crucial elements that will affect the country and the economy.

What it does is stops the rubber tomahawks thrown by Abbott. Kevin747 appears to have it all over Abbott and may want another sitting of Parliment.

I don't know what PNG outcome will be, but their economy in many areas is a barter system. Not much of an outcome for someone coming by boat; but then again the next boat ride should be a lot cheaper.

[gaucho]

if u r a genuine refugee u go to the first country out of the joint not thru 15 or so countries ...

[coma]

I like it as a method of deterant. But isn't there an even better <deleted> hole nearby to send them to ? I hope these free skaters enjoy thier meals PNG style.

[weegee]

I don't think the PNG Natives will put up with this for too long....stay tuned.

[BlackJack]

a 4 corners ABC Australian TV had a doco on this

the Manus Island detention center where many will be processed stated that each boat person would cost the Australian tax payer 1 million dollars

total cost over 2 billion dollars

sending them home by plane would cost approx 3000 dollars

[Chao Lao Beach]

RIOTING asylum seekers caused $60 million damage on Nauru, as pictures released to News Corp Australia show.

After three interpreters and three medical personnel were held hostage during the riot, all non-essential detention-centre staff were to be flown back to Australia.

http://www.news.com.au/national-news/nauru-rioters-cause-60m-damage/story-fncynjr2-1226682456715

[Mavrix]

Least they won't get bombed now ....just eaten.

[lee b]

well done to them and hope it works!

[Chris Lawrence]

Least they won't get bombed now ....just eaten.

At least the missionaries will be safe now......