Scott Morrison says decisions on Manus refugee applications ‘recommendations’
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Version 0 of 1. Scott Morrison has conceded that refugee determinations handed down on Manus Island are only recommendations, and the Papua New Guinea government has not finalised resettlement arrangements that would allow visas to be granted. The immigration minister said earlier on Friday that the first refugee status determinations had been handed down on Manus Island. But in response to questions at his Lowy Institute address on Friday, the minister said: “That is in the final stage, they are recommendations. The transferees have been advised of those decisions.” “Final decisions on positives are actually made by the [Papua New Guinea] minister for immigration,” he said. “That will be finally determined once they have determined the issues of settlement”. He said the previous Labor government had failed to implement an effective resettlement policy on Papua New Guinea. Guardian Australia understands the Papua New Guinea cabinet is still considering the resettlement arrangements that would allow visas to be granted to refugees from the Manus centre. Until the PNG government approves those arrangements, none of the asylum seekers who receive positive determinations can be resettled. It is also open for the PNG minister to reject the recommendations, so there is no guarantee that asylum seekers who receive positive recommendations will be granted visas. Morrison said in a statement on Thursday regarding the assessment process: “The [refugee status determination] process is run by the PNG government. This process vests the final decision-making power in the minister of foreign affairs and immigration based on recommendations from the chief migration officer”. |