Papua New Guineawill now becomethe strategic location for processing asylum seekers.
A new agreement was signed last Friday in Beisbane betweePNG and Australia. Underthe arrangement Australia will no longer receive asylum seekers.
It’s been dubbed one ofthe toughest decisions any Australian Prime minister has ever undertaken.
The Australian Prime Minister made his intentions known aboutthe Manus processing center during his visit to Port Moresby last week. Bet it wasn’t until he returned to Australia thatthe magnitude ofthe regional processing center agreement was brought intothe open.
Australia is taking a hard line stance onthe people smuggling issue. Asylum seekers who gothere without a visa will never be settled in Australia.
Underthe new arrangement signed with Papua New Guinea– unauthorized arrivals will be sent to Papua New Guineafor assessment and if found to be a refugee will be settled here or any third party country ther than Australia .
Kevin Rudd said Australia’s have had enough of seeing people drowning inthe waters totheir north.
Regional processing arrangements in Papua New Guineawill be significantly expanded and people will be sent to Manus Island as soon as health checks are complete and appropriate accommodation is identiflied.
The Australian government will expand existing facilities on Manus Island, as well as establishing futher facilities in ther parts of Papua New Guinea
There is no limit tothe number of people who can be transferred to Papua New Guinea
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has also acknowledged that it is a regional issue.
Meanwhile, UNHCR says it was no consulted whenthe agreement was drawn up. It is currently seeking futher clarification from both governments.
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