Aussie Refugee deal has hidden bonuses: policy analyst

[geovalin]

Will Jackson

While the modest stream of refugees from Nauru to Cambodia expected under the controversial deal with Australia has all but dried up, the aid money has continued to flow.

Only four refugees have taken up the offer of resettlement from the Pacific island to Cambodia – one of whom recently decided to go back home to Myanmar – and just two more have signalled a willingness to join them.

Nonetheless, the Australian government is coming through with its promised cash.

In May 2014 the Australian Government budgeted $A52.4 million to the Cambodia bilateral aid program for the 2014-15 financial year. The budget outcome for the full financial year was $A59.2 million. In 2015-16, Canberra has increased the Cambodia bilateral aid program to $A62.4 million.

read more: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/post-weekend/refugee-deal-has-hidden-bonuses-policy-analyst

[geovalin]

Two more refugees to resettle in Cambodia, brings total moved under $55m deal to five

By political reporter Stephanie Anderson

Two more refugees are due to resettle in Cambodia as part of a deal with Australia, bringing the total number of people resettled under the $55 million arrangement to five.

Three Iranians and an ethnic Rohingyan man were transported from Nauru to Phnom Penh in May as part of the deal.

Two Rohingyan refugees are expected to be transferred from Nauru to Cambodia, The Cambodia Daily newspaper has reported.

It stated that four refugees had been due to negotiate resettlement, but Cambodia's interior minister Sar Kheng said two had declined.

"We assigned the officials to interview them," he said.

"The preliminary report I have received from the general department of immigration of the ministry of interior is that among the four, only two have volunteered to come and two did not want to settle in Cambodia."

Their arrival follows news that the Rohingyan man resettled as part of an initial group of four refugees has returned home.

source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-23/two-more-refugees-to-resettle-in-cambodia/6880696

[gamini]

pathetic. The government should spend the money on resettling the refugees in Western Australia which has plenty of unused land in the north. The farmers are crying out for farmhands. But as we all know it's political. Australian politicians,trying to gain extra votes, give in to the racist voters and take a hard line against refugees. if Germany can take in 800,000 refugees, Australia could take in double that amount.

[Daniel Boon]

pathetic. The government should spend the money on resettling the refugees in Western Australia which has plenty of unused land in the north. The farmers are crying out for farmhands. But as we all know it's political. Australian politicians,trying to gain extra votes, give in to the racist voters and take a hard line against refugees. if Germany can take in 800,000 refugees, Australia could take in double that amount.

Australia cannot take even 80,000 ... and I disagree that Germany will be able to take / deal with 800,000 ...

[Doc46]

Why would Australia take any of the space invaders in the first place???? AT THE COST OF THE TAX PAYER? AT THE COST OF THE PENSIONERS AND THE HOMELESS ? > W<>T<>F< IS WRONG WITH ALL THE PEOPLE? LOOK AFTER YOUR OWN POOR PEOPLE, OR LET THE RICH PEOPLE TAKE THEM IN THEIR HOME? NOOOOOOO THEY DON"T WANT THAT,,,,,WHAT ABOUT THE DO GOODERS ? THEY WON'T TAKE ANY IN THEIR HOMES

[Jimbob1]

Scott Morrison the brilliant politician who was the architect of this resettlement ( $A 62 Million to resettle 3 people ) and is costing Ozzie Taxpayers millions should be "Tared and Feathered" ... where is he now ... made him TREASURER ...