‘Cambodian solution’ could see Phnom Penh take refugees from Australia

By PAUL MALEY
THE AUSTRALIAN
APRIL 04, 2014

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison in parliament. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Corp Australia

THE Coalition government is inching closer to a deal with Cambodia that could see Australia-bound asylum-seekers resettled or processed in the impoverished Southeast Asian nation.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison was yesterday in Phnom Penh for discussions with the Cambodian government.

The 24-hour visit builds on an earlier visit in late February by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop aimed at exploring an agreement that would see the Cambodian government take some Australian asylum-seekers.

At the time, Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Hor Namhong confirmed that Canberra had raised the possibility.

“The Australian minister has proposed that Cambodia receive some refugees from Australia,” Mr Hor Namhong said. “We talked a bit on the issue just now. In the past, there have been Cambodians going out as refugees to different countries. Now perhaps it is time for Cambodia to receive refugees back to Cambodia.”

Yesterday, Mr Morrison confirmed his visit built on Ms Bishop’s talks. “It is following on from the Foreign Minister’s visit and further discussion on regional co-operation issues,’’ Mr Morrison told The Australian.

The visit came on the heels of Mr Morrison’s trip to Papua New Guinea to discuss processing arrangements for the 1296 asylum-seekers held at the Manus Island detention centre. PNG has signed a joint statement agreeing for the first time to resettle all recognised refugees.

Mr Morrison said processing had begun and the first tranche of decisions was expected within a month.

He provided fresh details on how PNG and Australia will deal with successful refugees, all of whom Mr Morrison said would be settled in PNG.

The minister said refugees would be offered transitional housing in Australian-built accommodation in East Lorengau, before settling in the community.

He all but ruled out ongoing welfare payments for successful refugees, saying the Papua New Guineans were opposed to such an arrangement.

“There’s not an interest in there being any sort of long-term welfare situation, so we’re looking at fixed-term resettlement packages,’’ Mr Morrison said.

“Equally, that’s a desirable policy goal from our perspective. You have a fixed settlement package that allows people to get on their feet. You don’t want to create any two-tiered system within PNG, that’s not good.’’

He likened the packages to those offered to failed ­asylum-seekers who voluntarily returned home: the aim was to have recognised refugees living in the community within three months.

The minister scotched suggestions the report into the deadly riot inside the Manus Island centre would not be made public.

Labor yesterday accused Mr Morrison of making a “desperate dash” to PNG to clean up the mess from Tony Abbott’s recent visit.

“First, the Manus Island facility melted down on minister Morrison’s watch,” opposition immigration spokesman Richard Marles told The Australian.

“Then following a hasty visit to Port ­Moresby by Prime Minister Abbott, the PNG government suggested Australia may have to play a role in repatriating asylum-seekers that can’t be resettled there.”