Transcript
Australia's refugee detention centre on Manus Island is due to close by November when the bulk of its 800-odd residents will be forced to settle in PNG. They say that country is too dangerous, but the New Zealand government said in a statement bringing them here would be Australia's decision.
"There has been no change to New Zealand's offer to Australia to resettle 150 off shore detainees, who have been approved as refugees. We are not considering entering into a separate arrangement directly with Papa New Guinea or Nauru. New Zealand takes refugees through the UNHCR process."
The UNHCR or the United Nations refugee agency said in a statement it would welcome New Zealand's involvement in a solution for the detainees.
"Australia remains responsible for all people transferred to Papua New Guinea and Nauru. A significant number of vulnerable people have been immensely damaged by these arrangements and are unable to remain in those countries, where settlement is impossible. New Zealand is one of the world's most successful and established resettlement countries. In this context, UNHCR would welcome any opportunities for much-needed, long-term solutions on a one-off humanitarian basis."
Australia previously declined New Zealand's offer to resettle detainees as they could eventually enter Australia as New Zealand residents. But the New Zealand Green Party MP and immigration spokesperson Denise Roche says that's not Australia's concern.
"Because that's our immigration policy settings, not theirs. Manus does have to close down. The breaches of human rights there are appalling and atrocious. Our officials should be working alongside Papua New Guinea as well as Australia to convince them that we can take them."
The opposition Labor party in Australia says it would be open to New Zealand's offer, while the Labour party here said in a statement it would also offer resettlement if elected to government in September.
"We would maintain the offer to take 150 people. The offer is to Australia and not directly to PNG or Nauru. These asylum seekers are Australia's responsibility."
After four years of detention without charge, Manus Island detainees warn there'll be bloodshed if they're forced to settle in PNG.
