Nauru refugees to resettle in New Zealand under Labor, but Scott Morrison dismisses the deal
THE Prime Minister has all but dismissed Labor’s compromise deal on a “lifetime ban” for any Nauru refugees sent to New Zealand ever coming to Australia.
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PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has all but dismissed Labor’s compromise deal on a “lifetime ban” for refugees coming to Australia so sick kids and families on Nauru can be resettled in New Zealand.
The Prime Minister today accused the Opposition of having weaker boarder protection policies and grandstanding on the issue of refugee children “in response to domestic politics”.
He signalled he was working on a different action plan to get children off Nauru with crossbench MPs, who he will need if independent Kerryn Phelps wins the seat of Wentworth and the government loses its one-seat majority.
“I’m committed to ensuring we can deal with this challenge in terms of the situation with the children and I’m open to every sensible proposal,” Mr Morrison told reporters in Parliament today.
“What I’m going to do is continue on the program that I have been working with some crossbenchers on very carefully, not in a big-noting way, just getting on with it, managing the issues case by case, talking to those who understand the mental health and physical health issues associated with those who are affected.”
Earlier, Labor’s Immigration spokesman Shayne Neumann wrote to Immigration Minister David Coleman to outline the compromise deal after Shadow Cabinet agreed to it in Canberra late last night.
Labor demanded the removal of “all children and their families” on Nauru to New Zealand and the government’s “guaranteed acceptance of New Zealand’s offer” to resettle 150 refugees per year.
In return, Labor would back the “lifetime ban” on coming to Australia, which the government says is needed to prevent people smugglers capitalising on any weakening of the nation’s border policy, under the conditions that the ban only applies to the refugees sent to New Zealand and only applies to the Special Category Visa subclass 444, which enables the open travel of New Zealand citizens to Australia.
Mr Morrison is already under pressure to get children and families off Nauru by crossbench MPs, who are now in a position of power to demand action if Dr Phelps wins Wentworth.
Liberal MPs are also ramping up pressure on the Prime Minister to act as doctors and activists demand they get “kids off Nauru”.
Mr Neumann said Labor viewed the “lifetime ban” as a “ridiculous overreach” which has “nothing to do with the ability of the Government to accept the New Zealand offer” given it had accepted a one-off resettlement deal with the US without it.
“Last week before the Wentworth by-election, Scott Morrison indicated he would only accept New Zealand’s offer to resettle sick and vulnerable children and their families from Nauru if the Government’s “lifetime ban” legislation was passed. Now he needs to stick to his word,” Mr Neumann said in a statement today.
He said the compromise was about putting children first.
“Scott Morrison cannot argue against these amendments as they close the ‘back door’ from New Zealand to Australia — something he himself has called for.”
“With these amendments, no refugee from Nauru or Manus Island resettled in New Zealand would be able to resettle in Australia — ensuring people smugglers are not able to exploit vulnerable people.”
In his letter to the Immigration Minister today, the Labor frontbencher noted the situation involving children on Nauru “cannot continue to be ignored”.
He outlined the conditions “in the spirit of seeking to resolve this impasse and put the health of vulnerable children ahead of other considerations”.
“Your government has argued consistently and continues to argue that the issue of concern is specific to New Zealand due to the unique trans-Tasman Travel arrangements we have in place. As closing the so-called ‘backdoor’ entry from New Zealand is your objective, then limiting the legislation to New Zealand will achieve this outcome,” Mr Neumann wrote.
A total of 652 people remain on Nauru, including 541 who have been found to be refugees by Australia and 52 children, Border Force deputy commissioner of operations Mandy Newton told a Senate estimates hearing last night.
Another 88 people have yet to have their refugee status determined, while 23 people have been found not to be genuine refugees.
Border Force last night revealed the US had rejected 148 refugees from Nauru.
Originally published as Nauru refugees to resettle in New Zealand under Labor, but Scott Morrison dismisses the deal