Serious concern over crisis unfolding for refugees in PNG

Media Release
28 September 2023

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) has today expressed serious concerns about an unfolding crisis in Port Moresby with refugees and people seeking asylum forced to Papua New Guinea a decade ago, as well as their families, now being cut off from critical support services and evicted from accommodation. 

Refugees depending on the PNG government for accommodation in at least nine separate properties in Port Moresby have been evicted or warned that eviction is imminent.

The ASRC has been directly contacted by 17 people, and has received information confirming these reports that suggests that the number of people impacted is far greater. The people affected have been given no information about alternative accommodation and support.

The risk to the safety of the refugees is compounded by a high incidence of violent attacks, home invasions and theft in Port Moresby, where most have lived since the closure of Australian-run detention centres.

The ASRC understands that the evictions have been triggered by the PNG government’s failure to pay service providers over an extended period. Men accommodated in one Port Moresby property say they have been told that the PNG government has not paid the hotel for accommodation and services for more than eight months.

This development follows a gradual reduction of services including health care, case management, security and transport in recent months. There have also been delays in the payment of critical support allowances and the provision of food.

Affected people have sought information from the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority with no substantive response. They have also attempted to contact service providers, again with no substantive response or relief offered.

In July, parliamentary documents revealed that the Morrison government signed a “confidential bilateral arrangement” with the government of Papua New Guinea in December 2021. The Albanese government has refused to release the details of the funding agreement, claiming this would do “damage to the international relations of the Commonwealth”.

The ASRC is calling on the Albanese Government to take immediate action to evacuate the remaining refugees and people seeking asylum forced to PNG, so they can access medical care and be prioritised for resettlement here or in another safe country.

Ogy Simic, Director of Advocacy at the ASRC said:

“In the last few days, the ASRC has been contacted by over 17 people in PNG who have confirmed that they have been threatened with eviction from their current accommodation, or have already been cut off from critical services.

“We are deeply concerned about the unfolding crisis and have contacted the Australian government to ask what steps are being taken to provide safety, medical care and housing.

“Access to medical support was already inadequate and this is placing lives at risk. Further deterioration is of significant concern.

“The people seeking asylum and refugees trapped in PNG have suffered horrific human rights abuses, medical neglect, family separation and ongoing uncertainty over more than ten years of indefinite, offshore detention.

“Many are suffering from complex, multiple physical and mental health conditions, but they are not receiving adequate medical and mental health care. More than a dozen are so unwell that they are unable to engage in resettlement pathways.

“The only humane response is to bring the people being held offshore to safety in Australia, where they can access the support that they need, including urgent medical care.”

A refugee held in PNG for more than 10 years, who asked to remain anonymous, said: 

“Management came to the apartment in Citi Boutique … they told us: We remove you as soon as possible … they come personally, told us: Pack your bag, we remove you soon.”

–ENDS–

Media contact: media@asrc.org.au

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