PNG, Aust end offshore processing

THE Papua New Guinean and Australian governments have agreed to end offshore processing of asylum seekers in PNG by the end of the year.
Immigration and Border Security Minister Westly Nukundj and Australian minister for home affairs Karen Andrews made this known in a joint statement yesterday.
Both MPs said their governments had agreed to finalise the regional resettlement arrangement (RRA) at the end of the year.
The arrangement, agreed by both countries on July 19, 2013, authorised regional processing in PNG of people who had attempted to travel to Australia illegally by boat.
“Under the timeline announced today (yesterday), Australian government regional processing contracts in PNG will cease on Dec 31 and will not be renewed,” Nukundj and Andrews said in the statement.
“From Jan 1, 2022, the PNG Government will assume full management of regional processing services in the country and full responsibility for those who remain.
“Prior to Dec 31, 2021, Australia will support anyone subject to regional processing arrangements in PNG who wishes to voluntarily transfer to Nauru.
“PNG will provide a permanent migration pathway for those wishing to remain in PNG – including access to citizenship, long-term support, settlement packages and family reunification.
“PNG will also provide support to people temporarily in PNG awaiting movement to a third country.”
The statement also maintained that Australia’s strong border protection policies – including regional processing – had not changed.
“Anyone who attempts to enter Australia illegally by boat will be returned or sent to Nauru.”
Both MPs said Australia and PNG had been longstanding partners and regional leaders in the fight against maritime people.