Rudd ‘delusional’ on Manus refugees

Peter Dutton has attacked Kevin Rudd’s latest criticism of the government’s handling of Manus Island asylum-seekers.

Kevin Rudd has been labelled delusional over his latest comments on Manus Island. Picture: Getty

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has labelled Kevin Rudd “delusional” for criticising the government’s handling of refugees in Manus Island.

Mr Dutton hit out at the former Labor prime minister for calling the Malcolm Turnbull’s treatment of the refugees as “inhumane” while urging the government to bring them to Australia.

Mr Rudd, who created the detention camp on the Papua New Guinea island in 2013, said it was only supposed to last for a year.

“Turnbull’s handling of Manus is inhumane. The 2013 agreement was for a year,” Mr Rudd posted on Twitter.

“Turnbull failed to resettle them, so they should come to Oz (sic).”

Mr Dutton retweeted Mr Rudd’s statement and said the 2013 agreement did not include a time limit.

“Still delusional. 1200 people drowned at sea under Labor and agreement you signed was not time limited,” Mr Dutton posted.

“Is your plan Labor’s ‘real’ plan?”

Turnbull's handling of Manus is inhumane. The 2013 Agreement was for a year. Turnbull has failed to resettle them, so they should come to Oz

— Kevin Rudd (@MrKRudd) November 7, 2017

Turnbull attacks Greens over Manus stance

Earlier, Malcolm Turnbull has savaged refugee activists, including Greens senator Nick McKim, for encouraging asylum seekers to stay in a detention centre on Manus Island despite a court order demanding its closure.

The Prime Minister also defended his decision to reject an offer from the Ardern government to settle the refugees, saying people smugglers view New Zealand as “effectively part of Australia” while saying the Kiwis would be flooded with illegal boat arrivals if it wasn’t for the Coalition’s tough border protection policies.

Mr Turnbull said the 600 men who were refusing to leave the regional processing centre on Manus Island had access to “high quality” alternative facilities and they should move.

“The reality is, and this is the very sad reality of the case, is that there are some activists in Australia, including the Greens senator Nick McKim, who are basically encouraging these people not to move,” Mr Turnbull told ABC radio.

“It was a decision by the PNG Supreme Court that the detention centre should close and many people were calling for it to close.

“I think that the responsible course of action is to encourage them to comply with the lawful requests and requirements of the PNG authorities.”

Mr Turnbull said allowing the refugees to go to New Zealand would be marketed by people smugglers and the Left as a “backdoor entry” to Australia.

“Everything that the Greens and people on the left of the Labor Party say about this is used as marketing by the people smugglers,” Mr Turnbull said.

“They are the worst criminals and they are saying to these people: ‘don’t budge, get lots of pictures on the Australian news’.

“They will say it is getting a big run in the Australian media and before too long the Australian government will weaken and allow you to come to Australia and that will then be the marketing opportunity for the people smugglers.”

Turnbull falsely says I am encouraging the Manus men to stay. It may surprise him, but they still have agency to make their own decisions.

— Nick McKim (@NickMcKim) November 6, 2017

He took a thinly veiled swipe at New Zealand, reminding the smaller nation it only accepted 1000 refugees last year compared to Australia’s 20,000.

“As we know from our own intelligence, New Zealand is seeing as effectively part of Australia by the people smugglers,” Mr Turnbull said.

“We have intercepted and turned back boats which were heading to New Zealand, the only reason NZ does not have thousands people arriving in an unauthorised way on their shores is because of our border protection policies.

“New Zealand is a prime beneficiary from our strong border protection policies.”

Senator McKim denied he had encouraged men to stay at the Manus Island detention centre.

But he acknowledges he “supported” their decision to stay at the centre which the PNG courts ruled should close.

“Despite years of torture at his government’s hands, these men still have free agency,” Senator McKim said. “They have made their own decisions, and I and many others have simply supported them in the choices they have made.

“I will keep doing so, because it is their lives which are at risk. It would not be right for me, Mr Turnbull or anyone else to make their decisions for them.”