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| UN refugee agency raises more concerns over Labor's 'PNG solution' | UN refugee agency raises more concerns over Labor's 'PNG solution' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The United Nations refugee agency has raised a number of issues with Labor's regional agreement with Papua New Guinea, expressing concern that the deterrence policy fails to provide adequate protection for people seeking asylum under international law. | The United Nations refugee agency has raised a number of issues with Labor's regional agreement with Papua New Guinea, expressing concern that the deterrence policy fails to provide adequate protection for people seeking asylum under international law. |
| Criticism from the UN agency comes as the government attempts to manage more than 700 unauthorised boat arrivals in the week since its radical asylum policy shift. | Criticism from the UN agency comes as the government attempts to manage more than 700 unauthorised boat arrivals in the week since its radical asylum policy shift. |
| But the Coalition is also facing criticism over its pledge on Thursday to put a "three-star general" in charge of Australia's border protection efforts, reporting to the immigration minister. | But the Coalition is also facing criticism over its pledge on Thursday to put a "three-star general" in charge of Australia's border protection efforts, reporting to the immigration minister. |
| The former chief of the defence force, Rear Admiral Chris Barrie, suggested on Friday morning that the Coalition's Operation Sovereign Borders policy would make no difference. | The former chief of the defence force, Rear Admiral Chris Barrie, suggested on Friday morning that the Coalition's Operation Sovereign Borders policy would make no difference. |
| "How will a three-star appointment of this nature improve things when we've got a two-star admiral already assigned in border protection command, and a different agency and slightly different responsibilities?" Admiral Barrie asked the ABC. | "How will a three-star appointment of this nature improve things when we've got a two-star admiral already assigned in border protection command, and a different agency and slightly different responsibilities?" Admiral Barrie asked the ABC. |
| The Australia Defence Association also argues that the Coalition policy potentially breaches the legal chain of command. | |
| The UN high commissioner on refugees in a statement issued on Friday morning said Labor's agreement with PNG – which will see all asylum seekers dispatched to Manus Island for processing and resettlement – "raises serious, and so far unanswered, protection questions". | The UN high commissioner on refugees in a statement issued on Friday morning said Labor's agreement with PNG – which will see all asylum seekers dispatched to Manus Island for processing and resettlement – "raises serious, and so far unanswered, protection questions". |
| Based on recent visits to Australian immigration facilities on PNG, the UNHCR said there were currently "significant shortcomings in the legal framework for receiving and processing asylum seekers from Australia". | Based on recent visits to Australian immigration facilities on PNG, the UNHCR said there were currently "significant shortcomings in the legal framework for receiving and processing asylum seekers from Australia". |
| "These include a lack of national capacity and expertise in processing, and poor physical conditions within open-ended, mandatory and arbitrary detention settings. This can be harmful to the physical and psycho-social well-being of transferees, particularly families and children," it said. | "These include a lack of national capacity and expertise in processing, and poor physical conditions within open-ended, mandatory and arbitrary detention settings. This can be harmful to the physical and psycho-social well-being of transferees, particularly families and children," it said. |
| "While the UNHCR understands that a number of these issues are being addressed, it is concerned at the prospect of further transfers taking place under the new RRA in the absence of appropriate protection guarantees and to what will remain temporary facilities on Manus Island for the foreseeable future." | "While the UNHCR understands that a number of these issues are being addressed, it is concerned at the prospect of further transfers taking place under the new RRA in the absence of appropriate protection guarantees and to what will remain temporary facilities on Manus Island for the foreseeable future." |
| The UN agency has also put a serious question mark over the viability of permanent resettlement in PNG. | The UN agency has also put a serious question mark over the viability of permanent resettlement in PNG. |
| "From UNHCR's first-hand experience in supporting Melanesian and non-Melanesian refugees for nearly 30 years," it said, "it is clear that sustainable integration of non-Melanesian refugees in the socio-economic and cultural life of PNG will raise formidable challenges and protection questions." | "From UNHCR's first-hand experience in supporting Melanesian and non-Melanesian refugees for nearly 30 years," it said, "it is clear that sustainable integration of non-Melanesian refugees in the socio-economic and cultural life of PNG will raise formidable challenges and protection questions." |
| Criticism from the UNHCR follows a blast on Thursday from the Australian Human Rights Commission about the impact of the draconian policy on the rights and protections of children. The AHRC says the agreement potentially breaches Australia's international obligations. | Criticism from the UNHCR follows a blast on Thursday from the Australian Human Rights Commission about the impact of the draconian policy on the rights and protections of children. The AHRC says the agreement potentially breaches Australia's international obligations. |
| The attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, insists the new regional agreement with PNG is within the bounds of the law because PNG is a signatory to the UN refugee convention. | The attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, insists the new regional agreement with PNG is within the bounds of the law because PNG is a signatory to the UN refugee convention. |
| The new agreement was also criticised by Sir Michael Somare, a former prime minister of PNG. Somare told the Australian Financial Review the agreement looked like Australia was dumping its refugees. "I know Kevin Rudd well and he is a friend of mine, but what he is doing to Papua New Guinea is not right," he said. | The new agreement was also criticised by Sir Michael Somare, a former prime minister of PNG. Somare told the Australian Financial Review the agreement looked like Australia was dumping its refugees. "I know Kevin Rudd well and he is a friend of mine, but what he is doing to Papua New Guinea is not right," he said. |
| Labor's home affairs minister, Jason Clare, said on breakfast television on Friday that the upsurge in arrivals since the asylum policy shift reflects an upswing in activity by people smugglers. "Every lie you can think of is now being told to encourage people to get onto boats," Clare told the Nine Network. "They are pushing people onto boats because they make $1m per boat, sometimes more." | Labor's home affairs minister, Jason Clare, said on breakfast television on Friday that the upsurge in arrivals since the asylum policy shift reflects an upswing in activity by people smugglers. "Every lie you can think of is now being told to encourage people to get onto boats," Clare told the Nine Network. "They are pushing people onto boats because they make $1m per boat, sometimes more." |
| In Perth, the defence minister, Stephen Smith, announced more co-operation between Australia and Indonesia with his ministerial counterpart, Dr Purnomo Yusgiantoro. The ABC has reported that some Indonesian officials were concerned about a lack of consultation from Australia ahead of its announcement of the PNG resettlement agreement. | In Perth, the defence minister, Stephen Smith, announced more co-operation between Australia and Indonesia with his ministerial counterpart, Dr Purnomo Yusgiantoro. The ABC has reported that some Indonesian officials were concerned about a lack of consultation from Australia ahead of its announcement of the PNG resettlement agreement. |
| The Indonesian defence minister seemed unperturbed on Friday morning. Yusgiantoro said Indonesia knew Australia was cooperating bilaterally with Nauru and PNG. "We leave that to your bilateral cooperation," he said. | The Indonesian defence minister seemed unperturbed on Friday morning. Yusgiantoro said Indonesia knew Australia was cooperating bilaterally with Nauru and PNG. "We leave that to your bilateral cooperation," he said. |
| Asked whether he supported Tony Abbott's policy to turn back boats, and the Coalition new policy, Operation Sovereign Borders, Yusgiantoro pointed reporters to the looming regional summit on people trafficking in Jakarta on 20 August – which will involve host, transit and destination countries dealing with asylum seekers. | Asked whether he supported Tony Abbott's policy to turn back boats, and the Coalition new policy, Operation Sovereign Borders, Yusgiantoro pointed reporters to the looming regional summit on people trafficking in Jakarta on 20 August – which will involve host, transit and destination countries dealing with asylum seekers. |
| He argued that Indonesia would have difficulty increasing its military operations in its territorial waters. "Our assets are limited, our navy is limited." Yusgiantoro also stressed the Coalition should not take unilateral actions. "Being neighbours we should consult each other." | He argued that Indonesia would have difficulty increasing its military operations in its territorial waters. "Our assets are limited, our navy is limited." Yusgiantoro also stressed the Coalition should not take unilateral actions. "Being neighbours we should consult each other." |
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