Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced a one-off agreement between Australia and The United States, that will see a number of refugees from Manus Island and Nauru resettled there.
In a press conference this morning, Turnbull said:
“I can now confirm that the government has reached a further third country resettlement arrangement for refugees presently in the regional processing centres. The agreement is with the United States. It is a one-off agreement. It will not be repeated. It is only available to those currently in the regional processing centres. It will not be available to any persons who seek to reach Australia in the future.”
He did not specify what Australia’s obligation will be as part of the deal, although it is likely to involve Australian intake of South American refugees who are currently in a processing centre in Costa Rica.
Turnbull thanked the U.S., saying: “We have a long history of cooperation in which our two nations pursue our mutual and respective humanitarian objectives.”
The Australian government has not set a timeline for resettlement, but Turnbull added that “there will be American officials from Homeland Security coming to Australia to begin the process in the next few days.”
Turnbull, likewise, did not specify how many refugees will actually be resettled under the new deal, but said that the priority is “very much on the most vulnerable.”
The UNHCR will be ‘engaged’ during the implementation of the deal, and per ABC News reports, those found not to be refugees will not be accommodated by the agreement.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, also spoke about the deal, those who do not wish to be resettled in the U.S. will likely remain on Nauru on a 20-year visa, a program which is in the final stages of negotiation.
Current U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed the news at a press conference in Wellington this morning, saying:
“We in the United States have agreed to consider referrals from UNHCR on refugees now residing in Nauru and in Papua New Guinea.”
Photo: Etienne Oliveau / Getty.
