Australian government must come clean on secret deal as humanitarian crisis for refugees in PNG escalates

Media Release
11 October 2023

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), Amnesty International Australia, Human Rights Law Centre, community groups, and refugees have today called on the Australian government to accept its responsibility and duty of care for the safety of dozens of refugees exiled to Papua New Guinea (PNG) a decade ago, and come clean about its broken, secret deal with the PNG government.

The Albanese government is refusing to release the details of the “confidential bilateral agreement” the Morrison government signed with PNG in December 2021, which it previously denied existed. The ASRC understands the refugees have faced evictions, threats and cuts to services triggered by the PNG government’s failure to pay PNG accommodation and service providers over an extended period.

Tensions between Australia and PNG over the deal come as the crisis for refugees in PNG worsens, with those trapped reporting to ASRC that at least one refugee is homeless and many have not received their financial allowances and food vouchers, and are unable to afford basic needs such as food and medicine and essential services such as electricity.

Many are suffering from complex and multiple physical and mental health conditions, are not receiving adequate medical care, and more than a dozen are so unwell they are unable to function in everyday life, and unable to engage in resettlement pathways.

Refugee advocacy groups are calling on the Australian government to urgently evacuate the remaining refugees trapped in PNG to safety in Australia, so they can access medical care and be prioritised for resettlement here or in another safe country.

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

“I have been in limbo for 10 years and now [the contractors] are threatening me. I don’t know where to go. I don’t know anyone here. Where will I go? It feels like I’m not a human. It’s stressful, confusing, unjust and cruel.

“Safety is my main concern. I need safety. I hope the Australian government resettles us in a safe place like New Zealand, US or Australia.”

Ogy Simic, Director of Advocacy at the ASRC said:

“The Australian government has prioritised a broken, secret deal with Papua New Guinea over its responsibility to ensure the safety of refugees it forced to the country a decade ago. It must now heed the devastating pleas from refugees and calls from refugee advocates, and act immediately to ensure the safety of the refugees.

“The pain and suffering of these refugees is heartbreaking to see. They are simply seeking safety, but instead have been failed over and over again. The government must restore humanity by bringing them to Australia so they can rebuild their lives here or in another safe country like New Zealand.”

Sanmati Verma, Acting Legal Director at the Human Rights Law Centre said:

“Those left behind in PNG are the victims of a profoundly corrupt and secretive era of Australian politics. The past few weeks have revealed the extent of that corruption in the highest ranks of the Department of Home Affairs. Rather than entrenching and building upon this legacy, the Albanese government must start a new chapter by evacuating those on PNG and making public the details of the deal done by its predecessors.”

Dr Graham Thom, Amnesty International Australia, said:

“The refugees exiled by Australia to PNG remain Australia’s responsibility under international law and as such Australia must accept responsibility for their fate, it is crucial these men are returned to Australia immediately.”

Ian Rintoul, Refugee Action Coalition said:

“The Labor government’s admission that it has continued to provide funds to PNG under the secret deal puts the lie to its claim that it has no responsibility for the refugees left in PNG. The secrecy surrounding the deal has left the funds liable to rorting and left the refugees without the certainty, safety and support they need.
“The government has run out of excuses. The sixty-two people left in PNG should immediately be brought to Australia.”

–ENDS–

Media contact: Maddison Bates-Willis on +61 401 244 296 or maddison.b@asrc.org.au

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