13 Jul 2010

Samoa says housing asylum detainees would need careful consideration

3:20 pm on 13 July 2010

Samoa hasn't discussed the possibility of housing future asylum seekers for Australia, but admits it is an issue that would need careful consideration.

Australia Prime Minister Julia Gillard has suggested that Australia is looking to establish a processing centre in one of the Pacific countries that's a signatory to the UN convention on refugees.

Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, says Samoa would keep in mind what happened on Nauru, which previously housed asylum seekers in detention centres built by Australia.

"I think it is a matter which has to be, if presented to an island country, has to be looked at very carefully because there are many many economic social and political impacts on any country in the Pacific Islands that offers to become an asylum."

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.