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| Turnbull says he will consider NZ refugee deal only after US resettlements | Turnbull says he will consider NZ refugee deal only after US resettlements |
| (2 months later) | |
| Australian PM stresses US deal is the priority in meeting with Jacinda Ardern, despite being urged by backbencher Kevin Andrews to accept NZ offer | |
| Michael McGowan and Australian Associated Press | |
| Sun 5 Nov 2017 01.53 GMT | |
| First published on Sun 5 Nov 2017 00.01 GMT | |
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| 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. | 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. | 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”. | Turnbull had been expected to reject the offer, and said his government was “not taking it up at this time”. |
| However he left the door open for a future agreement, saying the government would consider the deal once it had completed the ongoing transfer of refugees to the US. | However he left the door open for a future agreement, saying the government 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. | “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].” | “We want to pursue those, conclude those arrangements and then in the wake of that obviously we can consider other [resettlement deals].” |
| 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. | 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. | “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.” | “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.” |
| But Turnbull also suggested the government would not look favourably on arrangements that increased the likelihood of asylum seekers arriving by boat. | 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. | “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.” | “We have put the people smugglers out of business and we will keep them out of business.” |
| Sunday was the first face-to-face meeting between Turnbull and Ardern, who became New Zealand’s new Labour prime minister last month. | Sunday was the first face-to-face meeting between Turnbull and Ardern, who became New Zealand’s new Labour prime minister last month. |
| As well as the Manus deal, in a two-hour meeting they discussed the future of the now 11-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, and concerns about the stability of the North Korean regime. | As well as the Manus deal, in a two-hour meeting they discussed the future of the now 11-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, and concerns about the stability of the North Korean regime. |
| Ardern said they did not talk about foreign minister Julie Bishop’s comments before the election in August that the Australian government would find it “very hard to build trust” with a Labour government after an extraordinary diplomatic spat over claims about the then opposition party’s role in Barnaby Joyce’s citizenship saga. | Ardern said they did not talk about foreign minister Julie Bishop’s comments before the election in August that the Australian government would find it “very hard to build trust” with a Labour government after an extraordinary diplomatic spat over claims about the then opposition party’s role in Barnaby Joyce’s citizenship saga. |
| Australia and Japan have been leading the charge to save the controversial trade deal since the US president, Donald Trump, withdrew his country’s support in January. | Australia and Japan have been leading the charge to save the controversial trade deal since the US president, Donald Trump, withdrew his country’s support in January. |
| New Zealand has remained committed to the TPP, but Ardern has raised concerns about investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) clauses which allow private companies to sue signatory governments before an international tribunal if they think the government has introduced or changed laws that significantly hurt their interests. | New Zealand has remained committed to the TPP, but Ardern has raised concerns about investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) clauses which allow private companies to sue signatory governments before an international tribunal if they think the government has introduced or changed laws that significantly hurt their interests. |
| While acknowledging the benefits of the TPP, Ardern said it would “not stop us from pursuing the ISDS clause as far as we are able”. | While acknowledging the benefits of the TPP, Ardern said it would “not stop us from pursuing the ISDS clause as far as we are able”. |
| “It is something I have made clear domestically and it is something I think the population would like to pursue to make sure we are protecting New Zealand’s domestic best interests,” she said. | “It is something I have made clear domestically and it is something I think the population would like to pursue to make sure we are protecting New Zealand’s domestic best interests,” she said. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Australian politics | |
| Malcolm Turnbull | |
| Jacinda Ardern | |
| Manus Island | |
| Australian immigration and asylum | |
| Migration | |
| news | |
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