Transcript
RIMBINK PATO: That's what is affirmed. There are ongoing challenges in relation to non-refugees, stateless persons, those who have been determined as genuine refugees yet they do not wish to resettle in PNG; they bring us new challenges which we've agreed to work together to address.
JOHNNY BLADES: Because Peter Dutton, just in the last day or so seems to be insisting that PNG take what would seem to be a majority of the refugees. We know that is a problem because they're not necessarily willing to do that (resettle in PNG) and you are still developing your refugee policy?
RP: No we've already confirmed our refugee policy. within the framework we're already granting citizenship of several thousands of refugees from the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya (West Papua) but in relation to those that are subject to assessment at the Manus processing centre, we have agreed to work on them together. There's no refusal on the part of PNG to resettle these people. But should they not resettle, then obviously that's a challenge that Australia and Papua New Guinea will work together tor resolve in terms of either finding resettlement in PNG or sending them to the US under the agreement that the US is negotiating with the USA, as a consequence of which they've already commenced a process of review, or those that have to be resettled in a third country which both Australia and PNG will work together with.
JB: Is it accurate that those who might go to the US, if this deal goes ahead, that it would be about three-hundred of them?
RP: Well, I'm not sure what the numbers will turn out to be in the end. But if they can settle the majority of them, well that's well and good. Of the 1,500-plus asylum seekers who came to Papua New Guinea, 500 of them have already voluntarily gone back to their home country, and the balance is subject of our determination processing, and up to 26 have already agreed to resettle in PNG and are already being resettled in other parts of the country.
JB: There's a feeling I've detected among people in your country that Australia has dumped this problem on PNG. You and the prime minister have said before it was about a regional solution, you were helping out a neighbour in need. But do you feel you've kind of been left with quite a difficult situation with a number of challenges that are hard to find a solution for?
RP: Well, where this is a will, there is a way. We want to contribute to an international issue, and it's a global concern, it's a regional issue. We want to make a contribution. Clearly the problem came in through the hands of Australia. We agreed to assist Australia, and the partnership is a long term and enduring one, so we will work together.
JB: You've got this October 31 deadline that the centre will be dismantled. But do you honestly think that you can get places for these refugees before then - there's almost nine-hundred of them, isn't there?
RP: Yes well, like I said, officially it will close. That's the understanding. As for those remaining challenges, our officials are working at the technical level to find how they will address them, and we have the fullest co-operation of the Australian government to find a solution to address each and every one of those issues. And under the agreement as it stands, the terms are quite clear that Australia bears full responsibility for the asylum seekers, some of whom have now been determined as refugees and others non-refugees. So, so long as the last person remains at the centre, so long as the last person cannot be resettled in the USA, resettled in a third country, or resettled in PNG, then obviously Australia will help us find a solution, because it's really Australia that we are seeking to help.
JB: Peter Dutton said that under the deal struck between your government and the Rudd government in 2013, that PNG had agreed to settle any genuine refugees or all of them. But is that the case?
RP: Well we agreed to it. But where they didn't want to settle in PNG, then the issue remains, and of course the need to address those issues and the challenges that we face in terms of funding and resource support, those are the responsibility of the Australian government under the agreement. So we will work with them, and we're doing it.
