Australia has been subject to harsh criticism from the international community for its treatment of boat refugees. To discourage more refugees from making the journey, Australia designed a policy to keep them away from its shores. Many critics claim that such policies are in violation of human rights.
The deal stipulates that New Zealand will accept up to 450 refugees who have been temporarily processed in Australia or are currently living on Nauru.
John Key, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, offered 150 refugees each year to be taken in 2013 by Jacinda Ardern.
Australia has been adamant that refugees who have gained citizenship in New Zealand could move to Australia, due to their free-movement policies.
Australia didn’t immediately respond to the offer. However, Karen Andrews from the Home Affairs Minister said that the New Zealand government would never allow the Nauru refugees to settle in Australia.
Andrews stated that “this arrangement does not apply for anyone who attempts to illegally maritime travel to Australia in future.” “Australia is firm. Illegal maritime arrivals won’t settle here permanently. Anybody who attempts to cross our borders will be returned to Nauru or turned back.
Kris Faafoi, New Zealand’s Immigration Minister, said that Australia accepted the offer.
Faafoi stated that New Zealand has a proud history of refugee settlement and that this arrangement was another example of how the international humanitarian community is fulfilling its obligations. “We are happy to be able provide resettlement outcomes to refugees who otherwise would have faced uncertain futures.”
Faafoi stated that all refugees would have to undergo rigorous screening.
Australia has been slowly reducing the number refugees it keeps on its offshore islands. Previously numbering in the hundreds, only 110 refugees now live on Nauru. Another 1,100 are temporarily staying in Australian processing centers.
Australia terminated a deal with Papua New Guinea in October to house refugees there. This gave those refugees the option of moving to Nauru, or to resettle in the U.S.
After Australia reached a deal with President Barack Obama in the last days of his administration, the United States agreed to resettle 1,250 migrants who Australia refused to accept due to their boat travel.
The New Zealand deal will not apply to the approximately 100 refugees who are still on Papua New Guinea.
After arriving in New Zealand on a temporary visa, refugee Behrouz Boochani was granted refugee status. He wanted to discuss the award-winning book he had written about his years in Papua New Guinea.
He described unsanitary conditions, hunger strikes and violence as well as deaths due to medical neglect and suicide.