Kabwum MP, Beb Dadae, has taken a sympathetic line in the asylum center debate calling for understanding towards Australia’s refugee problem.
Dadae spoke words that were more suited for the Australian Parliament. He said people who were expecting to go to Australia won’t be allowed easy access and tough decisions had to be taken.
“Before we know it Australia will be over-populated,” He said. “We are a big country, the big brother of the Pacific we must make tough decisions.”
Dadae is a member of People’s National Congress party led by the Prime Minister, Peter’Neill. He has expressed strong support for the decision taken by Peter O’Neill and Kevin Rudd.
But the statements come amidst a debate that is highlighting the negative impacts of the asylum center agreement. Social networks like, Facebook, in particular, are filled with comments challenging the decision.
One Facebook user decried Australia’s attitude towards Papua New Guinea and describing the deal as an “O’Neill-Rudd asylum seeker industry”, Another posted a question in Tok Pisin: “Are we going to just sit and watch?”
Some of the questions asked to relate to where the refugees are resettled as indicated by the Peter O’Neill.
While there is strong support from within government circles, many Papua New Guineas feel that the government shouldn’t be taking on responsibilities that belong to Australia.
Even staff at the Angau hospital one of the biggest recipients of the financial assistance in the deal says the hospital’s long awaited reconstruction has been tainted bythe asylum center deal.
