- Title: Australia defends offshore processing as case for UN Human Rights Council outlined
- Date: 12th December 2016
- Summary: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (DECEMBER 12, 2016) (REUTERS) AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, JULIE BISHOP, AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LOWY INSTITUTE, DR. MICHAEL FULLILOVE, AT SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINSTER, JULIE BISHOP, SAYING: "Ladies and Gentlemen, it is inevitable that in giving this speech outlining our case for election to the Human Rights Council that there will be a chorus of criticism over our support for offshore detention centres in Papua New Guinea and Nauru to process applications for those seeking asylum in Australia. I state categorically that our government will not take any steps that would encourage the people smuggling syndicates to get back into the business of people smuggling. There is no humanity in a government that puts in place a legislative framework against advice that can and did have the effect of luring vulnerable people to their deaths." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, JULIE BISHOP, SAYING: "Of those who sort to come to Australia via the people smuggling trade yet found to be owed protection, they can be resettled in Papua New Guinea, in Nauru, in Cambodia and with a proposal underway for resettlement in the United States. All four options should be entirely acceptable to someone fleeing from persecution, or the threat of it." FULLILOVE AND BISHOP SHAKING HANDS
- Embargoed: 27th December 2016 06:15
- Keywords: Australia Nauru United Nations refugee policy Julie Bishop Foreign Minister offshore processing
- Location: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA/MENENG, NAURU
- City: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA/MENENG, NAURU
- Country: Australia
- Reuters ID: LVA0015CKUYX3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS NOTE: CONTAINS WHITE FLASHES TO SEPARATE SOUNDBITES
As Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop outlined the case for the government's seat on the UN's Human Rights Council from 2018 on Monday (December 12), she was quick to fend off criticism of Australia's off-shore processing in Nauru and Papua New Guinea.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, it is inevitable that in giving this speech outlining our case for election to the Human rights Council that there will be a chorus of criticism over our support for off-shore detention centres in Papua New Guinea and Nauru to process applications for those seeking asylum in Australia. I state categorically that our government will not take any steps that would encourage the people smuggling syndicates to get back into the business of of people smuggling. There is no humanity in a government that puts in place a legislative frame work against advice that can and did have the effect of luring vulnerable people to their deaths," she told an audience in Sydney on Monday (December 12).
Under Australia's tough border security laws, asylum seekers intercepted trying to reach the country by boat are sent for processing at detention camps on Papua New Guinea's Manus island and the tiny South Pacific island nation of Nauru.
Some 1,200 people are in detention, with many held for more than three years. The United Nations and human rights groups have criticised the detentions.
"Of those who sort to come to Australia via the people smuggling trade yet found to be owed protection, they can be resettled in Papua New Guinea, in Nauru, in Cambodia and with a proposal underway for resettlement in the United States. All four options should be entirely acceptable to someone fleeing from persecution, or the threat of it," she said.
Australia has reached a resettlement deal with the United States for refugees being held in Papua New Guinea and Nauru after attempting to reach Australia by boat, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said in November.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to ban Muslims from entering the United States and championed anti-immigration policies, raising uncertainty about the resettlement deal. Many of the detainees come for Afghanistan and Iraq.
Amnesty International said it was extremely concerned about the lack of information around the timeline and the number of refugees to be processed. No timeline was given for the process.
The detention of asylum seekers is a hot-button political issue in Australia, but has bipartisan support as the policy has won elections. However, it has been condemned at home and overseas amid reports of systemic abuse.
The U.S. resettlement deal relieves a major headache for Turnbull, whose poll numbers fell to a 14-month low last week, raising speculation of fresh political turbulence in a country that has had four leaders in six years.
Papua New Guinea has said it will close the Manus island centre after its supreme court ruled detention of asylum seekers there was unconstitutional. The Nauru facility will remain open.
Asylum seekers who refuse offers to resettle or to return home will be offered a 20-year visa to stay on Nauru, but no financial support, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said.
Once rich in phosphate, Nauru has limited economic resources and the Australian-funded detention centre provides the tiny island state's most significant revenue stream. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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