Refugee resettlement: Cambodian officials visit Nauru

OFFICIALS will soon visit Nauru to speak with refugees about permanently moving to Cambodia.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton says arrangements to resettle an initial cohort of asylum-seekers in Cambodia was expected within weeks.

CAMBODIAN officials will soon visit Nauru to speak with refugees about permanently resettling in the southeast Asian nation, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton says.

Mr Dutton, who is attending meetings with Cambodian officials in Phnom Penh, said arrangements to resettle an initial cohort of asylum-seekers was expected within weeks.

Under an initial $40 million deal struck in September, Australia will pay for the resettlement of up to five asylum-seekers from Nauru to Cambodia with transitional aid for living costs, housing and education.

“I welcome Cambodia’s leadership on this vital regional issue and their commitment to finalise settlement arrangements as soon as possible,” Mr Dutton said.

“In particular, I recognise Cambodia’s progression within a single generation from a devastating civil war, through the rebuilding and reconstruction of their society, to a member of the international community taking a leadership position in protecting the vulnerable.”

Opposition immigration spokesman Richard Marles in October branded the $40 million commitment to resettle five asylum-seekers “a joke”.

The government says the scheme may be expanded, depending on the success of the initial cohort.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said: “Cambodia can barely care for its own people and has a track record of abusing refugees’ rights. Just last month Cambodian officials hunted down and forcefully returned Christian refugees to face persecution in Vietnam.

“Forcing refugees to choose between a life of torment on Nauru or a life of poverty in Cambodia is appalling. Peter Dutton is simply putting these families, who have fled from war and persecution, in a desperate lose-lose situation.

“Australia should be leading a genuine regional solution and working with countries to improve conditions, increase refugee processing speeds and find them safe places to live. Instead the Abbott government is bullying refugees and leaning on our impoverished neighbours.”