resettle refugees. At the time, Canberra claimed sending refugees to neighbouring New Zealand would provide a “pull factor” since such a deal would provide incentive for people to get on boats and come to Australia. In a major turnaround this week, the government of Australia has now decided to accept Wellington’s long-standing offer.
The decision was announced in a joint statement issued by Australia’s federal Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews and New Zealand’s Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi. Under the agreement, 150 refugees who come to Australia by boat each year will be resettled in New Zealand annually for three years. According to the ministers, refugees who will initially be considered for resettlement would be those on Nauru or temporarily in Australia under the regional processing arrangements, and meet the requirements of the Kiwi programme. Moreover, they must be referred by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and must not be involved in resettlement pathways for another third country.
Meanwhile, Minister Andrews went on to reiterate the fact that Canberra’s tough border policy had not changed, meaning anyone coming to Australia illegally by boat would never be allowed to settle there. “This arrangement does not apply to anyone who attempts an illegal maritime journey to Australia in the future,” she said. “Anyone who attempts to breach our borders will be turned back or sent to Nauru.”
Nevertheless, the opposition is of the view that the agreement is part of the government’s efforts to remove political “barnacles” ahead of the May election. It is “just another pre-election promise to protect inner-city Liberal seat,” Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Kristina Keneally, said, adding that Liberals might never actually implement the deal.
