Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s ‘humiliating backflip' allows ‘backdoor’ entry to Australia

A major backflip by Prime Minister Scott Morrison will allow refugees “backdoor” entry to Australia - but only after five years.

Scott Morrison’s backflip on sending refugees on Manus Island and Nauru to settle in New Zealand will allow a “backdoor” entry to Australia – but only after five years.

The Prime Minister confirmed this week that he will accept New Zealand’s offer of resettling refugees after years of resisting the plan because he feared it would restart the people smuggling trade.

Mr Morrison has repeatedly resisted the plan on the grounds that if refugees are sent to New Zealand, they could eventually turn up in Australia.

But under the plan – that only applies to existing refugees in offshore detention centres and not future arrivals – anyone who settled in New Zealand will be able to travel to Australia and settle here, if they granted New Zealand citizenship.

That process takes five years because applicants need to prove they have been physically present in New Zealand, as a resident, for a certain amount of time during the last half a decade.

After that, citizenship is granted, and there is no barrier to refugees who become citizens travelling to Australia and enjoying reciprocal rights between the two countries.

“This is a humiliating backflip for Scott Morrison who claimed as recently as 2018 that New Zealand’s generous offer to resettle refugees would see people smugglers restart their evil trade,” opposition spokeswoman Kristina Keneally said.

“Peter Dutton foolishly backed in Mr Morrison, saying New Zealand is being ‘marketed and pitched’ as a destination by people-smugglers.

“That was not true then, and is not true now – as the Morrison Government has been forced to admit today.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s backflip will allow "backdoor” entry to Australia. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Damian Shaw

It was Kevin Rudd who revived the controversial Pacific Solution refugee policy, sending the first group of asylum seekers to immigration detention in a makeshift tent city on the remote, tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru.

He famously pledged that they would never set foot in Australia. However, under the deal announced with New Zealand, they potentially can come to Australia – but only after five years.

New Zealand’s Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi said the country would welcome the asylum seekers – but only if they are found to be genuine refugees.

“This arrangement is another example of how we are fulfilling our humanitarian international commitment,” he said.

“We are pleased to be able to provide resettlement outcomes for refugees who would otherwise have continued to face uncertain futures.”

Under the plan, New Zealand will resettle up to 150 refugees per year for three years from Manus and Nauru.

But those who are not found to be refugees will be left languishing on Manus unless they agree to return home.

“This arrangement does not apply to anyone who attempts an illegal maritime journey to Australia in the future. Australia remains firm – illegal maritime arrivals will not settle here permanently. Anyone who attempts to breach our borders will be turned back or sent to Nauru,” Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said.

Jacqui Lambie told Today the jail threat was “intimidating”. Picture: Channel 9/Today

Meanwhile, Tasmanian Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie has revealed the reason she claimed she was threatened with jail time from Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

News.com.au revealed this week that she kept secret a deal with the Prime Minister to eventually send refugees to New Zealand for years and said the Prime Minister warned her if she told the truth she could be sent to jail.

The Morrison Government has played down the threat as a standard national security warning, but did not deny that they told her she risked jail if she told national security secrets.

“I don’t think there was any need for threats,” Senator Lambie told Nine’s Today show.

“I spent 10 years in the army. It takes a lot to intimidate me. It was intimidating what was said, it was bullish and I stand by that.

“I don’t believe it was very well communicated. I believe for me, I felt it was quite intimidating the way he said it, the way it was put.

“There was no need to do that because I already knew, quite clearly, if anything was said that deal would be off and all those people would be sitting on Nauru.”

Senator Lambie said she never worried about the jail threat, however, and was just thrilled that the refugees would now get off “the bloody islands”.