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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/nov/05/kevin-andrews-breaks-ranks-with-coalition-over-new-zealand-refugee-deal
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| Turnbull says he will consider NZ refugee deal only after US resettlements | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Malcolm Turnbull says he will “consider” New Zealand’s offer to take refugees from the Manus Island detention centre, but only once the government has completed its refugee transfer arrangement with the US. | |
| The Australian prime minister met with his New Zealand counterpart at Kirribilli House in Sydney on Sunday, and Jacinda Ardern confirmed she had restated her country’s offer to accept 150 refugees from among the almost 600 still holding out on Manus Island. | |
| Turnbull had been expected to reject the offer, and said his government was “not taking it up at this time”. | |
| And while he said his government was “not taking [the offer] up at this time”, he left the door open, saying it would consider the deal once it had completed the ongoing transfer of refugees to the US. | |
| “What we are seeking to do is to ensure that there are opportunities for resettlement on the people on Manus Island and Nauru. As you know we have an arrangement United States whereby a substantial number of about 1,250 can … be resettled in the United States. | |
| “We want to pursue those, conclude those arrangements and then in the wake of that obviously we can consider other [resettlement deals].” | |
| But Turnbull also suggested the government would not look favourably on arrangements that increased the likelihood of asylum seekers arriving by boat. | |
| “I just want to emphasise that we know what the alternative looks like,” he said. “Tens of thousands of unlawful arrivals and over 1,000 men, women and children drowning at sea. | |
| “We have put the people smugglers out of business and we will keep them out of business.” | |
| Ardern ruled out making the refugee resettlement offer directly to the Papua New Guinean government, saying there was “no need” because the offer was under “active consideration” by Australia. | |
| “I absolutely understand the priority that has been placed around the agreement with the United States,” she said. | |
| “Of course from the New Zealand perspective we want [our] offer to remain on the table so that we can assist as much as we’re able in expediting a resolution on this issue.” | |
| Earlier on Sunday, the Liberal backbencher Kevin Andrews broke ranks to lend his support to the idea of sending refugees to New Zealand to help end the standoff on Manus Island. | |
| More than 600 refugees have barricaded themselves in the mothballed detention centre, which closed on Tuesday. | More than 600 refugees have barricaded themselves in the mothballed detention centre, which closed on Tuesday. |
| “We should give consideration to what New Zealand is offering,” former immigration minister Kevin Andrews told Sky News on Sunday. “It’s a difficult problem but we should not rule out any particular solution.” | “We should give consideration to what New Zealand is offering,” former immigration minister Kevin Andrews told Sky News on Sunday. “It’s a difficult problem but we should not rule out any particular solution.” |
| He acknowledged there were concerns about a New Zealand refugee resettlement deal establishing a pull factor for people making boat journeys or becoming a back door to Australia. | He acknowledged there were concerns about a New Zealand refugee resettlement deal establishing a pull factor for people making boat journeys or becoming a back door to Australia. |
| But Andrews said if a deal could be crafted to work around those issues it should be given thorough consideration. | But Andrews said if a deal could be crafted to work around those issues it should be given thorough consideration. |
| The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, believes the government should accept the offer. | The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, believes the government should accept the offer. |
| New Zealand, which takes a total of 750 refugees a year, first made its resettlement offer in 2013, to the then Labor Gillard government. | New Zealand, which takes a total of 750 refugees a year, first made its resettlement offer in 2013, to the then Labor Gillard government. |
| The offer has been rejected more than once on the grounds it would give asylum seekers a backdoor into Australia and become a marketing opportunity for people smugglers. Overnight, one refugee was reportedly experiencing heart problems. | The offer has been rejected more than once on the grounds it would give asylum seekers a backdoor into Australia and become a marketing opportunity for people smugglers. Overnight, one refugee was reportedly experiencing heart problems. |
| Food and drinking water has run out and the group is too scared to move to alternative accommodation in the main township out of fear they will be attacked by locals. The last food packs were distributed on Sunday. | Food and drinking water has run out and the group is too scared to move to alternative accommodation in the main township out of fear they will be attacked by locals. The last food packs were distributed on Sunday. |