Eleventh group sent to Papua New Guinea under regional settlement arrangement

Australia’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) today confirmed the transfer to Papua New Guinea (PNG) of an 11th group of 40 asylum seekers subject to the regional settlement arrangement.

Under the arrangement - which was signed with PNG on July 19 - unauthorised maritime arrivals are sent to PNG for assessment and, if found to be refugees, will be settled there.

“People found not to be refugees may be returned to their home country or a country where they have a right of residence, or held in a transit facility,” a DIAC spokesman said.

The charter flight, with the group of 40 single adult men – consisting of 35 Iranians, two Afghans, one Iraqi, and two people claiming to be stateless – escorted by the Australian Federal Police, DIAC staff, interpreters and medical staff, departed Christmas Island last night.

The group arrived in Manus Province at about 7.30am and was transferred to the regional processing centre where they will be accommodated while their refugee claims are processed by the PNG Government.

There is no cap on the number of people who can be transferred to PNG and transfers will continue on a regular basis.

Australia is working with PNG to expand the Manus Island regional processing centre, as well as exploring the construction of other regional processing centres in PNG.

“If people are paying thousands and thousands of dollars to a people smuggler, they are buying a ticket to a country other than Australia,” the spokesman said.

Media Inquiries:
Ray Marcelo, Counsellor (Public Affairs) tel. (021) 2550 5290 mob. 0811 187 3175