It has been reported by Rappler.com that Australia is talking with the Philippine government to send refugees there, but refused to confirm reports of a AU$150 million (PHP4.5 billion) deal to expand its controversial resettlement policy.
Under Australia’s hardline policy to stop asylum-seeker boats reaching its shores, those arriving by sea are denied resettlement in Australia, even if found to be genuine refugees.
They are sent to much-criticized camps in the Pacific island nations of Nauru and Papua New Guinea. In recent months, Australia has been seeking new countries to where refugees could be resettled.
A front-page report in The Daily Telegraph said Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop had agreed the deal with her Philippine counterpart in New York and that it was awaiting sign-off by Philippine President Benigno Aquino III.
“We have had bilateral discussions with other countries, including the Philippines at an official and ministerial level over a number of months. The foreign minister obviously spoke with her counterpart in New York recently,” Immigration Minister Peter Dutton told reporters.
“I am not going to publicly comment in relation to where some of the negotiations are at. I think we’re best to discuss those issues in private with those partners,” said Minister Julie Bishop.
Philippine DFA confirms discussions
In a statement, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed a meeting between Bishop and Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario.
DFA spokesman Charles Jose said their meeting “covered many areas of our bilateral relations, with particular focus on our working for a comprehensive partnership.”
“The global discourse on the issue of migration and refugees was also discussed in the context of how each country is finding ways to fulfil its international obligation,” Jose said.
Canberra has already struck a deal with Cambodia to accept refugees in exchange for millions of dollars in aid over the next 4 years.
Only 4 asylum-seekers have so far opted to take up the offer of a new life in impoverished Cambodia, while the deal itself has been condemned by [human] rights groups.
“We will continue the negotiations [with the Philippines] because there is good faith on both sides,” Dutton said.
“If we can strike an agreement that is in the best interests of our country and from the Philippines’ perspective, their country, we will arrive at that point.”
It has been more than a year since a boat carrying asylum-seekers arrived in Australia and Canberra has declared its hardline policy a success, despite intense criticism from human rights groups.
Before it was introduced, boats were arriving almost daily, with hundreds drowning in the high seas.
Bishop’s office would not confirm the report on the Philippines deal, but a spokeswoman said the two governments had “long cooperated on irregular migration, people-smuggling and human trafficking.” — (Agence France-Presse)