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Exclusive - Australia increases pressure, cash offers for PNG asylum seekers to return home

By Colin Packham and Aaron Bunch

REUTERS

 

Detainees walk around the compound among water bottles inside the Manus Island detention centre in Papua New Guinea, February 11, 2017. Behrouz Boochani/Handout via REUTERS

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Officials at an Australian immigration centre in Papua New Guinea are increasing pressure on asylum seekers to return to their home countries voluntarily, including offering large sums of money, amid fears a deal for the United States to take refugees has fallen through.

 

About a dozen Bangladeshi and Nepalese asylum seekers on Manus Island told Reuters they are being repeatedly called to meet with Australian officials and pressured to take amounts of up to $25,000 (£20,042) to return to those countries, or face deportation.

 

The men, who have been ruled ineligible for refugee status by Papua New Guinea, said officials are also acting with urgency on deportation notices filed weeks or months ago. At least one Nepalese man was removed from his accommodation in the middle of the night last week, they said.

 

"They told me and others that if you go back voluntarily you will get money about $20,000, if you guys go in group you will get more money," detainee Mohammad Bilal, a crane driver who says he fled Bangladesh for political reasons, told Reuters about a meeting with Australian officials last week.

 

Offering money to failed asylum seekers to return home is not illegal. However, the sums being offered by Australian officials have more than doubled since a year ago, and are far above the funds being offered elsewhere.

 

Germany, for example, recently announced plans to offer up to 1,200 euros (£1,022) to asylum seekers to voluntarily return home.

 

"Substantial assistance packages are available to help non-refugees depart voluntarily, return home and re-establish their lives in their home country," Australia's immigration department said in an emailed statement to Reuters. "In cases where non-refugees refuse to depart voluntarily, the government of PNG has indicated that it will enforce the removal of those individuals, in accordance with normal international practice."

 

The department declined to comment in more detail.

 

Australia does not reveal the cost of its offshore processing programme. However, a 2016 report from Unicef and Save the Children estimated the policy had cost A$10 billion (£6.1 billion) over the previous three years.

 

DOUBTS ON U.S. DEAL

 

The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court last year ruled the Manus Island centre, which houses around 860 men, breached human rights and was illegal, adding pressure on Australia to find a new solution.

 

But U.S. President's Donald Trump's immigration ban has thrown doubt over a swap deal agreed in the final months of the previous administration.

 

The United States committed to take up to 1,250 asylum seekers being held on behalf of Australia on Manus and Nauru, another Pacific island nation. In return, Australia will take refugees from Central America.

 

The deal sparked a rare diplomatic spat between the two allies, with Trump berating Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull before reluctantly agreeing to honour the deal, subject to "extreme vetting" of would-be refugees.

 

While the numbers of asylum seekers trying to reach Australia pale in comparison to those flooding into Europe, losing the U.S. deal would be a major set-back for Turnbull. His centre-right coalition came to power on policies that deny any asylum seeker trying to reach Australia by boat from ever being allowed to settle there.

 

OFFERING CASH

 

There are 225 men on Manus currently eligible for deportation as so-called "double negatives" - people who have twice had their refugee claims rejected.

 

Bangladeshi and Nepalese detainees are being targeted for both deportation and voluntary return, human rights advocates and lawyers said, because Iran does not accept deported citizens and international law prevents the return of people to war torn countries such as Syria and Afghanistan. Nationals from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar are also held in the centre.

 

Bangladeshi detainee Mohammad Rasel told Reuters he was offered $19,500 to return to Bangladesh voluntarily, more if he convinced a group of his countrymen to go with him, during interview with an Australian Border Force official on Manus last Tuesday.

 

Another detainee who requested anonymity told Reuters that ABF officials met with a group of twelve Nepalese men on Friday, telling them they could either accept an offer of between $10,000 and $25,000 to go home voluntarily, or be deported.

 

Lawyers and refugee advocates have raised concerns about process.

 

"The increased focus by the Australian and PNG governments on deporting people with negative protection assessments is deeply troubling," said Sanmati Verma, a lawyer at Clothier Anderson Immigration Lawyers who represents several people on Manus and Nauru. "All of the circumstances indicate that those people have never had their claims for protection fairly, legally or impartially assessed."

 

The Papua New Guinea government did not respond to emailed and telephoned requests for comment on its refugee assessment practices.

 

Sally Thompson from Refugee Rights Action Network said long delays before processing began seriously compromised detainees' mental health and many were afraid to speak freely before the migration agents supplied by the Australian government.

 

"Those with final negative assessments from PNG Immigration have been unable to access pro bono lawyers with standing in PNG Courts who can challenge these decisions on procedural grounds," she said.

 

(Additional reporting by Serajul Quadir in DHAKA; Writing by Jane Wardell; Editing by Lincoln Feast)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-02-15

[halloween]

Sally, do you really think your fellow citizens want illegal immigrants with mental health problems?

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Offering them huge sums of cash will backfire, there will be more of them coming just for the cash handouts.

[FitnessHealthTravel]

Great.  Give them some money and send them home where they can integrate.

[oldsailor35]

Go to Australia asylum seekers, you will get a bigger cash offer than if you go to Europe.  This is yet another crazy effort by the Australians.

 

[weegee]

Unbelievable....They offer this to the refugees and take take away money from pensioners...Who built the country in the first place.

Imagine if Pensioners were given this same handout....and remember it is their(Pensioners) money in the first place...

[simple1]

1 hour ago, weegee said:

Unbelievable....They offer this to the refugees and take take away money from pensioners...Who built the country in the first place.

Imagine if Pensioners were given this same handout....and remember it is their(Pensioners) money in the first place...

For a start there is no guarantee whatsoever any monies saved would be allocated to Oz welfare recipients. Welfare is paid out of the annual Federal Budget, not some mythical savings account.

 

It has been claimed offshore detainees cost the government around $400k p.a. each, so any incentive for them to depart sooner rather than later is good whilst they wait for their respective governments to agree to their return.

Edited February 15, 2017 by simple1

[zorro1]

Unbelievable....They offer this to the refugees and take take away money from pensioners...Who built the country in the first place.
Imagine if Pensioners were given this same handout....and remember it is their(Pensioners) money in the first place...

Exactly! They have slashed disability support by 40% in the last two years. I guess the wanted the money to throw at illegal immigrants.. Oz has lost the plot!

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[simple1]

30 minutes ago, zorro1 said:

Exactly! They have slashed disability support by 40% in the last two years. I guess the wanted the money to throw at illegal immigrants.. Oz has lost the plot!

Sent from my Redmi Note 3 using Tapatalk
 

Don't be silly. Government has toughened up on the criteria as more than 800,000 Australians receive DSP payments.  Some info...

 

http://www.ncoa.gov.au/report/appendix-vol-1/9-12-disability-support-pension.html

Edited February 15, 2017 by simple1

[zorro1]

Don't be silly. Government has toughened up on the criteria as more than 800,000 Australians receive DSP payments.  Some info...
 
http://www.ncoa.gov.au/report/appendix-vol-1/9-12-disability-support-pension.html

Yep and massive portion were kicked of DSP onto welfare benefits where they will never find work but will enjoy a big slash in payment. Mostly they are people with mental health problems.. Nothing more than culling.. Now they can throw their money at refugees!

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[simple1]

18 minutes ago, zorro1 said:

Yep and massive portion were kicked of DSP onto welfare benefits where they will never find work but will enjoy a big slash in payment. Mostly they are people with mental health problems.. Nothing more than culling.. Now they can throw their money at refugees!

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Nonsense, you're making totally unsubstantiated claims by linking welfare cost reduction efforts to supporting refugees. 

[Stargeezr]

I would rather have Australia's problem with housing people off shore than Canada's problem of having the refiners on their land and having to send a bunch back to their home countries in the future. If Australia is giving these people money to return home, and these refugees are refusing the money, it shows that these people are greedy, and who needs more greedy refugees

Geezer

[zorro1]

Nonsense, you're making totally unsubstantiated claims by linking welfare cost reduction efforts to supporting refugees. 

I'm just pointing out how unfair the system is! And yes they are throwing money at refugees while culling ozzies that need that money people who earned it working and paying taxes.

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[simple1]

11 hours ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

I would rather have Australia's problem with housing people off shore than Canada's problem of having the refiners on their land and having to send a bunch back to their home countries in the future. If Australia is giving these people money to return home, and these refugees are refusing the money, it shows that these people are greedy, and who needs more greedy refugees

Geezer

If you read the OP should the refugees refuse to accept an offer they will be forcibly deported. I would assume, taking into account internal costs for lawyers, facilities etc it would be a more expensive option than a refugee accepting a payment, therefore the pressure being applied.

[simple1]

1 hour ago, zorro1 said:

I'm just pointing out how unfair the system is! And yes they are throwing money at refugees while culling ozzies that need that money people who earned it working and paying taxes.

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You may well consider the process of attempting to reduce the cost of welfare is unfair, but yet again there is no linkage to refugee support costs.

[BEVUP]

Well from what I seen on the tv they have every thing one would need & more whilst in these detention camps - a lot more than some Auss families

For instance why would they need mobile phones, couldnt they just use the facilities phones like maybe in a recreation area whilst thee kids are playing on their new bike

They don't need more workers in Auss as we are entering a depression whilst there will be at least 100,000 losing jobs in 2017

[simple1]

8 hours ago, BEVUP said:

Well from what I seen on the tv they have every thing one would need & more whilst in these detention camps - a lot more than some Auss families

For instance why would they need mobile phones, couldnt they just use the facilities phones like maybe in a recreation area whilst thee kids are playing on their new bike

They don't need more workers in Auss as we are entering a depression whilst there will be at least 100,000 losing jobs in 2017

There were approx 300,00 new jobs created, along with around 190,000 new migrant intake in 2015. How were these numbers negatively influenced by offshore detention of refugees?

[Stargeezr]

300,000 new McDonald workers, thats the new jobs you talk about.

[BEVUP]

On 2/16/2017 at 3:28 AM, simple1 said:

There were approx 300,00 new jobs created, along with around 190,000 new migrant intake in 2015. How were these numbers negatively influenced by offshore detention of refugees?

Dont be fooled by Gov figures,

Australia has reverted back to digging a hole & selling gas soon to be minimal expansion 

Aust certainly doesnt have a manufacturing industry - your first 100,000 out of work by dec. 2017 (no more car building ) along with another 100,000 from heavy construction industry 

& yes 300,000 Macas jobs at 2 days a week

I compete wthin my competency with free for all Kiwis, low paid tradesman who get more money by not doing their trade  & any other visa holder.

Now you can see why asia restricts foriegn workers

[simple1]

19 minutes ago, BEVUP said:

 

& yes 300,000 Macas jobs at 2 days a week

McDonalds employs 90,000 staff nationally, Yep as legislated two days a week for those aged under 15. Got any other pearls of wisdom? Approx 85% of fast food outlets underpay hourly rates for their staff -  for all the criticism people may make against McDonalds does not underpay staff, in fact one of the preferred employers for youth.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 2/15/2017 at 0:56 PM, halloween said:

Sally, do you really think your fellow citizens want illegal immigrants with mental health problems?

Sally, no doubt in my mind, is making a very nice living from twittering on about the plight of people who chose to make an illegal attempt to enter another country. I personally doubt that she would be prepared to house any of them in her own home.

It's always great to use other people's money for your own hobby horse.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 2/15/2017 at 6:44 PM, simple1 said:

For a start there is no guarantee whatsoever any monies saved would be allocated to Oz welfare recipients. Welfare is paid out of the annual Federal Budget, not some mythical savings account.

 

It has been claimed offshore detainees cost the government around $400k p.a. each, so any incentive for them to depart sooner rather than later is good whilst they wait for their respective governments to agree to their return.

If it's true that each refugee costs 400k p a someone needs to look at where the money is going. Sounds like a huge bureaucracy scam to me.