Aussies consider Manus as possible refugee site

THE Australian government is looking at Manus as a possible site for a regional refugee processing facility, The National reports.

This comes after the government encountered strong opposition to a centre being located in Timor-Leste.

But the Australian government is yet to formally raise the use of the Lombrum centre on Manus with PNG leaders.

Foreign minister Stephen Smith has briefed his PNG counterpart Sam Abal on Julia Gillard’s proposal for a regional approach to asylum-seekers during their meeting in Alotau, Milne Bay, last week.

Australian home affairs minister Brendan O’Connor said they would engage with any of the countries within the region on this matter that were signatories to the (UN) refugee convention.

He said this when asked whether Manus Island, used for refugee detention by the previous Howard government, could be a possible alternative site.

“Papua New Guinea is a signatory to the refugee convention and, therefore, we are willing to engage on that basis, because we believe we need to have a regional approach, one that also recognised the convention in that manner.”

Earlier yesterday, the department of foreign affairs and trade released the transcript of a press conference held in PNG last Thursday between Smith and Abal.

Smith explained that he had briefed his PNG counterpart on Gillard’s proposals but had not sought any indications about particular locations for a refugee processing centre.

Abal said PNG had “the place up in Manus” but had yet to consider reopening it.

A spokeswoman for Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare said yesterday there was no approach on the matter, and “any consideration would have to go before the cabinet”.

PNG has been housing about 10,000 refugees from fighting across the border in Indonesia for about 20 years in a manner recently commended and applauded by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Manus Governor Michael Sapau had expressed his willingness to have the centre reopened because of the resulting jobs and income for the province.