Albanese urges government to consider New Zealand refugee offer
Labor leader Anthony Albanese has reminded the federal government that it could take up New Zealand’s offer to resettle refugees from Australia’s offshore detention centres.
Peter Dutton confirmed on Sunday that about 800 asylum seekers remain on Nauru and Manus Island. Of the group, 300 have been knocked back by the United States under its deal with Australia to resettle up to 1250 refugees, which has otherwise nearly played out.
Dutton said the offer isn’t in the government’s best interests while people smugglers are marketing New Zealand.
Source: SBS
* That’s what it amounts to
New Zealand’s offer was merely a ‘virtue signalling exercise – as can be seen from their annual quota.
New Zealand Refugee Quota Programme
“New Zealand resettles 1000 refugees annually through our Refugee Quota Programme”
Source: Immigration New Zealand