Summary
We’re going to wrap up our live coverage of Australia’s refugee resettlement announcement now. Here’s a brief summary of what we know so far:
- Australia’s prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has announced a special “one-off” deal with the United States to resettlement some refugees from Nauru and Manus Island. It will not be available to any future boat arrivals if they are transferred to the regional processing centres.
- Considerable uncertainty remains about the number of refugees that will be eligible for resettlement and how quickly this process will occur. Turnbull said that family groups on Nauru would be a high priority.
- Refugee groups have cautiously welcomed the government’s resettlement deal but have called for greater clarity over the terms of the agreement and how it will operate.
- A 20-year temporary visa will also be available to refugees on Nauru who decline to travel to the United States if they are accepted for resettlement.
- The government has announced a major increase on the military side of Operation Sovereign Borders to turn back and prevent any further arrivals of asylum seekers by boat.
Updated
A coalition of refugee groups have just given a press conference to respond to the deal.
"The plan is not a plan. No timeframe. No numbers. No details on what the government will do with hundreds of innocent people" pic.twitter.com/JgH6Se6kD6
— HumanRightsLawCentre (@rightsagenda) November 13, 2016
"This ugly chapter only closes when everyone suffering at our government’s hand is rebuilding their lives in safety." @DanielHRLC pic.twitter.com/0aulT2It13
— HumanRightsLawCentre (@rightsagenda) November 13, 2016
Press conference with HRLC, @ChRefugee, @GetUp, @ASRC1, @OzRefugeeCounc. pic.twitter.com/AgC7k6HjCP
— HumanRightsLawCentre (@rightsagenda) November 13, 2016
The Labor senator Lisa Singh has often been outspoken about Australia’s offshore detention policies. She’s currently on a secondment to the United Nations as part of a parliamentary delegation and she’s released this statement following the resettlement announcement:
Senator Lisa Singh has declared the United Nations refugee summit to be a key influential factor in the Turnbull government’s resettlement announcement of refugees from Manus Island and Nauru.
‘Clearly the agreed outcomes from the UN refugee summit have been an influential factor. This highlights the important role of multilateral institutions and the pressure they can wield.’
Senator Singh is currently in New York where she has been seconded to the UN for three months as a parliamentary delegate. She participated in the recent UN refugee summit. Without knowing any further detail she welcomed the resettlement of refugees from Manus Island and Nauru but maintained it was long overdue.
‘Some of the key principles from the summit’s New York declaration were the political will to protect the human rights of refugees, to expand resettlement options and to end the practice of detaining children.
‘The Turnbull government agreed to the outcomes of the summit’s New York declaration, which has made it untenable for Australia to continue to lock refugees up indefinitely.
“The Turnbull government has failed to protect the human rights of refugees on Manus Island and Nauru, particularly children. Indefinite detention has cost billions of dollars, harmed innocent people who sought our protection, and created damage to our international reputation.
‘The UN refugee summit, combined with the role the UNHCR will play in this resettlement arrangement, reinforces the importance of the UN as a global institution setting norms and standards.
‘This resettlement deal underlines the importance of the UN in helping to resolve refugee issues.’
Updated
The prime minister posted this on his Facebook page shortly after making the resettlement announcement.
The Australian government has a very extensive messaging program set up to deter asylum seekers from coming to Australia.
Following the refugee resettlement announcement the government is likely to increase that messaging.
We’ve pulled together a full report on the refugee resettlement detail. For all the details, check it out here:
The Australian government has announced a landmark “one-off” resettlement deal to the United States for an unspecified number of refugees held at Australia’s remote offshore detention facilities on Nauru and Manus Island.
On Sunday the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, announced a deal that would prioritise families, women and children for settlement with “the prospect” that others in offshore detention would be resettled in the US.
“I can now confirm that the government has now reached a further third-party resettlement arrangement,” Turnbull said. “The agreement is with the United States. It is a one-off agreement. It will not be repeated. It is only available to those currently in the regional processing centres.”
“It will not be available to any persons seeking to reach Australia in the future. Our priority is the resettlement of women, children and families.”
At the press conference, at Maritime Border Command in Canberra, Turnbull refused to say how many refugees the deal would apply to but said the deal showed the government “can source and provide alternative resettlement options”.
The remaining refugees on Nauru will be eligible for 20-year temporary visas on Nauru.
The US resettlement would be contingent on vetting by the United States Homeland Security agency.
Here’s the full video of the prime minister’s refugee resettlement announcement:
Oxfam Australia have also just released their own statement on the announcement. Oxfam Australia’s humanitarian policy adviser, Dr Nicole Bieske, said:
The announcement from the government today to resettle people from Nauru must bring to an end Australia’s damaging offshore processing regime.
‘Oxfam is concerned that the agreement does not end the interminable limbo for all people on Manus Island and Nauru.
‘Australia has an obligation to the refugees and asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru and must bring to Australia anyone not covered by the agreement with the United States.
‘Many of these people have been in offshore detention for several years and have experienced severe psychological damage as a result of the policies of the Australian government.
‘While Oxfam welcomes the announcement that refugees from Nauru are to be resettled in the United States, the Australian government had an obligation to ensure that they were resettled in Australia and that they were supported and assisted to recover.’
Updated
There’s been a lot of responses to far to the refugee resettlement deal. But perhaps the most important voices in all of this are from the refugees and asylum seekers themselves.
We’ve asked Behrouz Boochani, who is being held on Manus Island, to write for us today about how he feels about the announcement. He’s outlined what the response has been so far on Manus Island:
It’s hard for me to leave this island without any justice. What is my right as a human? It’s hard for me to accept this option because I feel that I’m not being treated as a human.
People are so happy here but some people are so sad and this is unfair. They could do it three years ago, not now.
I prefer to be in prison than leave this island without my friends, because I cannot accept injustice.
If I could accept injustice, I would have stayed in Iran. I cannot forget my humanity, principles and values.
I hope that people in Australia respect my decision. How can I leave this prison without my friends?
I’m not the Australian government and I don’t want to be like them. I’m not a slave that they use for their political aims.
It’s time we show people what humanity is and what human rights are.
And here’s a light-hearted refrain from all of the serious stuff for a moment.
The Australian government announces it will send 1200 refugees from Manus and Nauru to the US in exchange for 58 million Clinton voters.
— Tom Ballard (@TomCBallard) November 13, 2016
More from McKim:
It seems as if people will still be left to languish on Manus Island and Nauru.
We want to see people taken out of those camps ... the easiest, swiftest way to achieve that is to bring these people to Australia.
We want an assurance that nobody will be left behind on Manus Island and Nauru.
Updated
The Greens’ immigration spokesman, Nick McKim, is also responding now to the resettlement deal. He said there is still “significant uncertainty” over the terms of this deal.
We have to make sure that nobody is left behind on Manus Island and Nauru ... that is the critical issue here.
How many people with this deal relate to, how many people will it apply to?
Updated
And just returning to those earlier comments by the United States secretary of state, John Kerry, here’s a clearer transcript of the exact question he was asked and his response:
US Secretary of State @JohnKerry comments on Australian refugee announcement pic.twitter.com/wCr3czZBWs
— Samantha Maiden (@samanthamaiden) November 13, 2016
Updated
The prime minister really stressed how unfairly victimised he felt the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, and the former immigration minister Scott Morrison had been.
He said they had been often unfairly targeted and treated badly by activists in the execution of the government’s immigration policy.
Buzzfeed Australia has pulled together of some of the most memorable – and quite reasonable – occasions that the ministers have faced criticism.
It’s not an exhaustive list.
Malcolm Turnbull is angry people think Dutton and Morrison are heartless. @lanesainty and I checked the receipts https://t.co/Bp8tkk3QM6 pic.twitter.com/xbhPNaaECS
— Mark Di Stefano (@MarkDiStef) November 13, 2016
Updated
And here’s Amnesty International Australia’s release following the refugee announcement:
Today’s announcement by prime minister Malcolm Turnbull on third-country resettlement is an extreme step in shirking responsibility by the Australian government, said Amnesty International.
Prime minister Turnbull today announced that the Australian government is in discussions with the United States for some of the refugees warehoused on Nauru and Manus Island to be settled in the US via a process administered by the UNHCR.
“It is absolutely shameful that the Australian government has first sent several thousand people to languish for three years on Nauru and Manus Island, set up an offshore processing regime on Nauru that amounts to torture and is now passing the buck when it comes to offering them protection,” said Dr Graham Thom, refugee coordinator at Amnesty International Australia.
“Australia is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and should be leading by example at a time of global record high levels of people forced to seek safety. Yet our Government is failing to play a fair part in providing sanctuary for those fleeing conflict and persecution, and this urgently needs to change.
“Amnesty International has seen first hand the horrific abuse that is being inflicted on people in Nauru and on Manus Island, so we are pleased that for those who may be resettled in the US the abuse will come to an end and we acknowledge the US for giving people a genuine chance at settling and restarting their lives in a safe place.
“What this announcement clearly shows is that the Australian government has finally acknowledged that Australia’s offshore processing policy is not tenable and Australia’s centres on Nauru and Manus Island must be urgently emptied and closed.”
Updated
Save the Children Australia, which provided welfare services on Nauru until 2015, has just issued a statement on the resettlement deal:
Save the Children has welcomed the Turnbull government’s resettlement agreement with the United States as an opportunity to restore hope and provide a pathway towards a safe and prosperous future for refugees who have spent years languishing on Nauru and Manus Island.
Save the Children Australia chief executive Paul Ronalds, said: ‘We welcome this agreement. Getting people from Nauru and Manus Island to safety is a priority of the highest order and the Turnbull government should be commended for finally negotiating an outcome that allows many people an opportunity to move forward with their lives.
‘The pain and misery that has been felt by asylum seeker children and their families on Nauru and Manus Island has been a black mark on Australia’s conscience and can never be undone.
‘We must celebrate that these children are now finally being given the opportunity to fulfil their full potential. Many will no doubt go on to do remarkable things, becoming doctors, teachers, academics, business leaders, nurses, politicians, humanitarians and artists.
‘We hope someday they will find it in their hearts to visit Australia and that our politicians will have the wisdom and decency to ensure that they are never barred from doing so.
‘The Turnbull government must ensure these refugees are provided with the full complement of support, services and rights, including access to health, education, employment, travel rights, support for family reunification and a pathway towards citizenship, when they are resettled in the US.’
Updated
My colleague Paul Karp has just sent this through, as other government MPs weigh in on the refugee announcement.
Liberal MP Andrew Laming is on Sky News and said the final number of refugees to go to the US ‘is not yet decided’. So, not only would Malcolm Turnbull not be drawn on the number of refugees it would apply to, now one MP says there is no hard figure.
“The more the better,” Laming said before attacking Labor for losing control of refugee policy.
Updated
Here are a couple of images from the press conference earlier in the day.
The government put on a very strong show of force for this announcement.
The steady stream of uniformed officers that were asked to speak – defence, Australian Border Force, air force – were designed to emphasise that the military elements of Operation Sovereign Borders were very much still in place.
Updated
My colleague Helen Davidson has written this very comprehensive analysis of all the events that have brought us up to this point with the US resettlement announcement:
A deal with the US to settle an unknown number of refugees from Australia’s offshore processing centres could mark the end of one of Australia’s most contentious political and moral issues over the past 15 years.
Since offshore processing was restarted in 2001, it has grown into an internationally condemned, secretive regime, subject to hundreds of court cases in Australia and overseas.
Inside the centres there have been violent deaths, horrific acts of self-harm and abuse, and mass protests.
The centres have emptied and swelled, peaking under the former Labor government.
The government’s line, hardened over the years by both Labor and the Coalition, had left it in an immovable position – not one asylum seeker who comes by boat can settle in Australia, lest its policy be seen as a failure.
Australia’s government claims its harsh policies have stopped the boats – despite some recent attempts – and thus the deaths at sea. It’s assumed any future arrivals would be dealt with as they are now – with enhanced screening processes and boat turnbacks.
Human Rights Watch’s Australia director Elaine Pearson has also just sent out a brief statement about the announcement:
This refugee deal is not perfect but it’s a major step forward. The Australian government’s intransigence and short-sighted immigration policies, based on political rather than humanitarian motives, have caused immense suffering to people fleeing persecution in their homelands and who were locked up on Nauru and Manus.
It’s a relief for refugees on Manus and Nauru if their ordeal is finally coming to an end, and a welcome move by the US to offer refugees safety and ability to move on with their lives. Unlike Cambodia, Nauru and Papua New Guinea, the US has an established track record in resettling and integrating refugees. We look forward to seeing more details about this agreement, and we urge both the US and Australia to move quickly to avoid more mental anguish and trauma for people who have suffered so much.
Here’s a video of the prime minister’s announcement about the resettlement deal:
Prime Minister @TurnbullMalcolm announces 'one-off' refugee resettlement agreement with the United States #auspol https://t.co/fBGbKRto5s
— ABC News (@abcnews) November 13, 2016
The Human Rights Law Centre has also issued a statement on the announced by the Australian government:
The Human Rights Law Centre says that reports of an imminent announcement of a third-country settlement deal reveal that the Turnbull government has finally conceded that the Manus and Nauru detention arrangements are unsustainable.
The Human Rights Law Centre’s director of legal advocacy, Daniel Webb, said that such a concession would be a step in the right direction but that serious questions remain about who the deal will apply to and what will happen to the innocent people left behind.
“After three years of fear, limbo and harm, it looks like the government is finally acknowledging that Nauru and Manus are dead ends,” Webb said. “That concession is important and long overdue.”
Webb called on the government to urgently clarify the details of any proposed deal and how the government would ensure that every person currently languishing on Nauru or Manus will be able to rebuild their lives in safety.
As of 31 October 2016, there are 941 people on Nauru who have been accepted as refugees and 675 on Manus Island. This leaves around 500 people whose refugee status hasn’t yet been confirmed, plus another 320 people who are already here in Australia after being brought back from offshore detention for medical treatment.
Updated
Here’s the full announcement from the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, on Australia’s resettlement deal with the United States:
The Australian government has reached a further third-country resettlement agreement for refugees currently in regional processing centres.
Resettlement arrangements for those found to be refugees in Nauru and Manus Island already exist with Papua New Guinea and Cambodia.
This further agreement is with the United States and it will not under any circumstance be available to any future illegal maritime arrivals (IMAs) to Australia.
The priority under this arrangement will be for resettlement of those who are most vulnerable, namely women, children and families.
US authorities will conduct their own assessment of refugees and decide which people are resettled in the US.
Refugees will need to satisfy standard requirements for admission into the US, including passing health and security checks.
This process will take time and the resettlement will be gradual.
This arrangement is supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and we will continue to engage with UNHCR on its implementation.
We will continue to support the Governments of Nauru and Papua New Guinea to return people determined not to be owed protection. These people should return to their country of origin.
The Government is acting decisively to resolve Labor’s border legacy. It has fallen to the Coalition to stop the boats, close the onshore detention centres and remove children from detention. As a result of these actions, we are now able to address another stark symbol of Labor’s failure: those illegal maritime arrivals in regional processing centres on Manus Island and Nauru.
Settlement in Australia will never be an option for those found to refugees in regional processing centres nor for anyone who attempts to travel to Australia illegally by boat in the future.
Australia’s border protection policy remains consistent and firm. Operation Sovereign Borders will continue to turn back people-smuggling ventures where it is safe to do so and any illegal maritime arrivals to Australia will be sent to regional processing centres.
The Australian government has reinforced our maritime assets in the waters to Australia’s north and increased our surveillance capabilities to ensure that any boats that attempt to come to Australia will be detected and turned back.
Under the Coalition, Australia’s borders are now stronger than ever.
Updated
Here’s some important background on the UNHCR’s role in all this. The prime minister and immigration minister have not been entirely clear on their role in all this.
The UNHCR has stressed it is not a party to the Australian government’s one-off deal. They are not involved in considering claims for refugees on Manus Island and Nauru.
What they are doing is making referrals to the United States for refugees who are being considered for resettlement.
Why does this even need to happen? United States migration law requires a referral from the UNHCR or certain NGOs to make a person eligible for resettlement.
So while it’s not a direct role in the deal, it will play an important role in facilitating the arrangement.
Updated
The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, is now responding to news of the announcement. He’s making it very clear that the opposition haven’t been briefed on the details so far but has cautiously welcomed it.
It has taken the government three plus years to negotiate this deal but we are pleased if it is an end to indefinite detention.
We will certainly in principle work with the government. But we do welcome this. We do want to see people moved out of these facilities.
Updated
UNHCR issues cautious support for agreement
The Australian government has strongly suggested that UNHCR is involved in the resettlement deal.
This is unusual because UNHCR has had no involvement in the assessment of refugee claims on Manus Island and Nauru. It strongly objects to Australia’s offshore detention regime.
We’ve now got a little more clarity about this from the UNHCR. It has said it will give an in-principle endorsement of referrals. But it has stressed that it is not a party to the agreement and does not know the details of it.
Basically this means it will have no formal role – certainly as part of its normal processing arrangements – in the determination of claims.
The arrangement reflects a much-needed, long-term solution for some refugees who have been held in Nauru and Papua New Guinea for over three years and who remain in a precarious situation. It is on this basis that UNHCR will endorse referrals made from Australia to the United States, on a one-off, good offices, humanitarian basis, in light of the acute humanitarian situation.
The full details of the agreement are not yet known, and UNHCR is not a party to it. UNHCR remains gravely concerned about the fate of all vulnerable individuals in Papua New Guinea and Nauru. Appropriate solutions must be found for all of them. UNHCR’s endorsement of these referrals under the humanitarian imperative does not alter Australia’s obligations under international law, including the right to seek asylum irrespective of the mode of arrival.
Updated
And finally, Turnbull is quizzed by my colleague, Paul Karp, again on the precise numbers of the deal. Isn’t it reasonable to conclude that most, if not all, will be simply offered resettlement on Nauru rather than the United States?
All I can say to you is that we have demonstrated by the diligence and integrity of our response that we can secure Australia’s borders.
As to what others choose to write about it, I’ll leave that to your judgment, if not your imagination.
And with that missive, Turnbull bid reporters adieu and ended the press conference.
Updated
Next question is whether the deal is comprehensive; who will it really apply to? The prime minister has largely dodged this one but indicated that family groups are a high priority.
We are not providing any more detail about the arrangements than we have today.
The arrangement for the United States will provide the opportunity for refugees, both on Nauru and Manus, to be resettled.
I should stress that the priority will be the most vulnerable, which are family units, and those who are on Nauru.
The prime minister also confirmed it would apply to all those already found to be refugees on Nauru and Manus. Peter Dutton had also earlier said this included those who are currently in Australia receiving medical treatment.
And what about those not found to be refugees?
People that aren’t owed protection need to return back to their country of origin.
Updated
The prime minster is now addressing questions about the deal. First up is about the timeline.
The process will be an orderly one. There will be American officials from Homeland Security coming to Australia in the next few days. We’re not setting timelines.
Of course the American government will carefully assess each would be transferee to the United States.
Updated
We’re getting the full shebang today. Next up is the commissioner of the Australian Border Force, Roman Quaedvlieg:
The Operation Sovereign Borders construct and the joint agency taskforce ... will remain in this building as an enduring capability to endure people smuggling.
Updated
The chief of the defence force is now running through the assistance Defence will continue to provide in terms of defence vessels.
Major general Bottrell, who leads Operation Sovereign Borders, is now also speaking:
We know that people smugglers will seek to take advantage of today’s announce to try to encourage other vulnerable people to enter Australia.
Updated
The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, is now speaking about the announcement:
This is the latest step in Operation Sovereign Borders ... we have more assets at sea and we have been positioning those assets in recent months in anticipation of this announcement.
I want to confirm though that there are other aspects to the annojuncement that we make today. One is that we are in final stages of negotiation with Nauru for 20 year visas.
Critically, he said that the deal will apply to “those 370 odd people who have come from Nauru or Manus and are receiving medical treatment in Australia”.
Updated
The prime minister is now thanking the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, his predecessor, Scott Morrison, and former prime minister Tony Abbott for implementing Operation Sovereign Borders.
Updated
The prime minister is now stressing that the government will massively increase maritime operations to deter any potential boat arrivals from Indonesia and other countries.
Australia’s border protection policy has not changed. It is resolute. It is unequivocal.
Prime minister announces US deal
Here are the first details of how the agreement will work:
I can now confirm that the government has now reached a further third-party resettlement arrangement.
The agreement is with the United States. It is a one-off agreement. It will not be repeated. It is only available to those currently in the regional processing centres.
It will not be available to any persons seeking to reach Australia in the future.
Our priorities is the resettlement of women, children and families.
It will be administrated with the UN refugee high commission for refugees.
I want to thank the United States for their co-operation.
Updated
Turnbull on the refugee policy:
I am especially proud that, under our government, we have removed all the children from Australia and closed 17 detention centres. Having secured our borders we then became in a position to work to achieve greater resettlement options for the people that the Labor party have left on Manus and Nauru. From the time I became prime minister I have been putting in place ... the measures that enabled us to do that.
Updated
PM announcing refugee deal
The prime minister is now speaking at his press conference and making the resettlement announcement
There’s an important point to raise about John Kerry’s earlier comments on US involved with a resettlement deal.
Kerry seems to be under the impression that the US government will be taking referrals from the UNHCR to determine which refugees to accept from Manus Island and Nauru.
It is very unclear how this will work, because UNHCR has no involvement whatsoever in the assessment of refugee claims.
At the moment all claims are being managed by the domestic Papua New Guinea and Nauruan governments. There have been various concerns raised with these processes over the years by former caseworkers.
If the UNHCR is involved in the assessment of claims this would involve a substantial departure from how things are currently operating.
I’ve sought comment from the UNHCR on this but have yet to hear a response from them.
The prime minister’s press conference is now set to begin at 10:45am.
Apparently reporters aren’t allowed to take their phones into the border control facility in Canberra. Cameras seem fine though. Who knows what mysterious advice Asio is giving them?
(This is a secure building. Ministerial staffers are also handing in their phones. But we can broadcast live with devices using SIM cards 🤔)
— Frank Keany (@FJKeany) November 12, 2016
A few others have also lined up after the announcement.
The Greens immigration spokesman Nick McKim has announced a press conference for 1pm in Tasmania.
The Human Rights Law Centre, GetUp, the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce, the Refugee Council of Australia and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre will also hold a press conference at 1:30pm in Melbourne.
How many refugees are currently on Nauru and Manus Island?
Asylum seekers on Papua New Guinea and Nauru have been steadily undergoing assessments of their refugee claims over the last three years.
At the moment on Nauru those who haven’t had their claims processed are currently housed in what has been described as “open centre” arrangements since October 2015. Some of those found to be refugees are now living in the community.
On Manus Island many of those found to be genuine refugees remain in the regional processing centre. A number of them are also in a new resettlement facility. Few are now living in the community.
The October 2016 update from Australia’s immigration department outlines some of the key numbers:
As at 31 October 2016, there were a total of 872 people in Manus Island RPC and 390 people in Nauru RPC. With the opening of the Manus RPC, those yet to be determined are now permitted to depart the RPC. The figure on those still living in the RPC will therefore be fluid.
Of the 1015 Refugee Status Initial Assessment Notifications at Manus Island, 510 were positive and 505 were negative as at 31 October 2016. There were 675 refugees who have been given a positive final determination. There were 147 failed asylum seekers who have been given a negative final determination.
Of the 1195 Current Refugee Status Determination (RSD) hand downs in Nauru, 941 were positive and 254 were negative as at 31 October 2016.
While the combined populations of Manus Island and Nauru are currently 1262 the resettlement deal there are also several hundred asylum seekers currently on the Australian mainland receiving medical treatment and care. This figure also discounts refugees on Nauru living in the community.
The key figures relevant to this deal are the 675 positive determinations on Manus Island handed down by the Papua New Guinea foreign minister, and the 941 positive determinations handed down by the Nauruan government.
These are likely to be claims that will be eligible for the resettlement deal.
Labor’s former shadow immigration minister Richard Marles was also on the ABC earlier. He welcomed the possibility of refugees getting off Nauru and Manus Island.
If this is what’s on the cards, obviously it’s welcome ... it absolutely begs the question as to why it’s taken so long and why this government wasn’t doing this three years ago.
The people have been allowed to languish there for three years. That’s been an enormous shame on this government, it’s been a disgrace.
Updated
Earlier this morning on ABC Insiders the trade minister, Steve Ciobo, was queried about the deal.
He declined to outline any clear details, but told the ABC:
We’ve made big progress. You look at where we gotten to from where we came.
I’m not going to speculate in terms of the media headlines ... The Coalition’s focus has been on continuing to repair our border integrity.
Updated
US secretary of state confirms elements of deal
The United States secretary of state, John Kerry, seems to have beaten the prime minister to at least one element of the resettlement announcement.
Earlier today on Sky News the secretary was questioned in New Zealand about the deal. He confirmed to reporters that the US would consider referrals from UNHCR.
Kerry says US/Aust deal in works: “we have agreed to consider referrals from UNHCR on refugees now residing in Nauru + PNG” (@jmodoh)
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) November 12, 2016
At this we still don’t know what other countries will be involved in the resettlement deal.
It may be that a number of others will also feed in to it, but this comment certainly gives the strongest indication yet that the US will be involved.
Updated
Manus Island and Nauru: what you need to know
The Australian government has adopted a policy of mandatory offshore detention for asylum seekers who seek to arrive by boat to Australia.
This policy has seen large numbers of asylum seekers held in offshore detention facilities on Manus Island and Nauru.
Over the last three years these facilities have been plagued by reports of poor conditions, deteriorating mental health as well as serious instances of riots and unrest.
The government’s attempts to resettle refugees on Nauru, Papua New Guinea and in Cambodia have all but failed. Malcolm Turnbull’s government has been negotiation to find third country options to find more durable solutions.
In the last several weeks there’s been frequent hints that the government has been making strides with a number of countries, including the United States.
This all appears to be coming to a head today. The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has announced a joint press conference with the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, at 11.00AM AEST about a resettlement deal.
Updated
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the Australian government’s imminent announcement of a resettlement deal for refugees on Manus Island and Nauru.
The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, is expected to announce the details of the major resettlement deal at 11.00am AEST.
The deal may finally see an end to the uncertainty for hundreds of refugees held in Australia’s offshore detention centres.
We’ll be bringing you live coverage of the press conference and ongoing news and analysis throughout the day.
Updated
