Latest news with #Rintoul
Scoop
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
‘No Future' For Refugees On Nauru After Funding Extension
Article – RNZ A Nauru government report states that, of the 93 transferees on Nauru, four have been granted refugee status, and 89 asylum seekers are undergoing the appeals process. RNZ Pacific The Refugee Action Coalition says there is no future for the asylum seekers still stuck on Nauru, following the announcement that a funding deal for the Regional Processing Centre has been reached with Australia. Nauru's President David Adeang made the announcement last month in parliament. A Nauru government report states that, of the 93 transferees on Nauru, four have been granted refugee status, and 89 asylum seekers are undergoing the appeals process. The refugee coalition's spokesperson Ian Rintoul said options are very limited for the asylum seekers. 'If there's four people have been found to be refugees, and the rest are actually going through an appeal process… it's an indication that there's some very real problem I think, with the processing on Nauru.' When asked what the long-term funding arrangement meant for those living there, he said they have no future. 'People that are on Nauru are there indefinitely,' he said. 'That's one of the big problems, is that the government has talked about long-term funding for Nauru, but they've got no third country resettlement options.' Rintoul said the Australian offshore detention position is unlikely to change despite Saturday's election. Australian governments have been sending people seeking asylum to Nauru, and also, previously, to PNG, under policy the country's boarder protection policy. Its regional processing and resettlement stance is aimed at deterring people trying to reach the country illegally by boats. The Australian government has maintained this position since 19 July 2013, that anyone who attempts to get into Australia illegally by boat would ever settle in the country. Rintoul said Labor and the Liberals continue to sing from the same songsheet about refugees. He said a new rule will allow Australia to remove not just those arriving illegally by sea, but those presently in the country. A parliament summary said this bill – passed late last year – would allow the minister to issue written directions to a 'removal pathway non-citizen' to facilitate their removal from Australia; introduce criminal penalties for refusing or failing to comply with such directions; and empower the Minister to reverse a protection finding in relation to a lawful non-citizen who is on a removal pathway. 'The new deportation legislation allows the government of the day to remove some of those people to Nauru, and the Labor government was quite happy to cooperate with the liberals, use their votes to push that legislation through,' Rintoul said. 'Certainly, the refugee movement in Australia will be looking to take up the protest movement again after the election on Saturday, to push the issue of refugees, their human rights and a welcome-refugee policy that desperately needs to be implemented in Australia, and including that is to end offshore detention.' Earlier this year, the UN Human Rights Commission published its decisions on two cases involving refugees who complained about their treatment at Nauru's regional processing facility. The committee stated that Australia remained responsible for the health and welfare of refugees and asylum seekers detained in Nauru. 'A state party cannot escape its human rights responsibility when outsourcing asylum processing to another state,' committee member Mahjoub El Haiba said. it has been the Australian Government's consistent position that Australia does not exercise effective control over regional processing centres'. Canberra opposed the allegations put to the committee, saying there was no prima facie substantiation that the alleged violations in Nauru had occurred within Australia's jurisdiction, but the UN committee disagreed. Meanwhile, the governments of Australia and New Zealand formlised a refugee settlement arrangement in March 2022. Under the arrangement, New Zealand will settle up to 150 refugees per year until June 2025 (up to 450 in three years).
Scoop
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
'No Future' For Refugees On Nauru After Funding Extension
The Refugee Action Coalition says there is no future for the asylum seekers still stuck on Nauru, following the announcement that a funding deal for the Regional Processing Centre has been reached with Australia. Nauru's President David Adeang made the announcement last month in parliament. A Nauru government report states that, of the 93 transferees on Nauru, four have been granted refugee status, and 89 asylum seekers are undergoing the appeals process. The refugee coalition's spokesperson Ian Rintoul said options are very limited for the asylum seekers. "If there's four people have been found to be refugees, and the rest are actually going through an appeal process... it's an indication that there's some very real problem I think, with the processing on Nauru." When asked what the long-term funding arrangement meant for those living there, he said they have no future. "People that are on Nauru are there indefinitely," he said. "That's one of the big problems, is that the government has talked about long-term funding for Nauru, but they've got no third country resettlement options." Rintoul said the Australian offshore detention position is unlikely to change despite Saturday's election. Australian governments have been sending people seeking asylum to Nauru, and also, previously, to PNG, under policy the country's boarder protection policy. Its regional processing and resettlement stance is aimed at deterring people trying to reach the country illegally by boats. The Australian government has maintained this position since 19 July 2013, that anyone who attempts to get into Australia illegally by boat would ever settle in the country. Rintoul said Labor and the Liberals continue to sing from the same songsheet about refugees. He said a new rule will allow Australia to remove not just those arriving illegally by sea, but those presently in the country. A parliament summary said this bill - passed late last year - would allow the minister to issue written directions to a "removal pathway non-citizen" to facilitate their removal from Australia; introduce criminal penalties for refusing or failing to comply with such directions; and empower the Minister to reverse a protection finding in relation to a lawful non-citizen who is on a removal pathway. "The new deportation legislation allows the government of the day to remove some of those people to Nauru, and the Labor government was quite happy to cooperate with the liberals, use their votes to push that legislation through," Rintoul said. "Certainly, the refugee movement in Australia will be looking to take up the protest movement again after the election on Saturday, to push the issue of refugees, their human rights and a welcome-refugee policy that desperately needs to be implemented in Australia, and including that is to end offshore detention." Earlier this year, the UN Human Rights Commission published its decisions on two cases involving refugees who complained about their treatment at Nauru's regional processing facility. The committee stated that Australia remained responsible for the health and welfare of refugees and asylum seekers detained in Nauru. "A state party cannot escape its human rights responsibility when outsourcing asylum processing to another state," committee member Mahjoub El Haiba said. After the decisions were released, a spokesperson for the Australian Home Affairs Department said " it has been the Australian Government's consistent position that Australia does not exercise effective control over regional processing centres". Canberra opposed the allegations put to the committee, saying there was no prima facie substantiation that the alleged violations in Nauru had occurred within Australia's jurisdiction, but the UN committee disagreed. Meanwhile, the governments of Australia and New Zealand formlised a refugee settlement arrangement in March 2022. Under the arrangement, New Zealand will settle up to 150 refugees per year until June 2025 (up to 450 in three years).
RNZ News
02-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
'No future' for refugees on Nauru after funding extension
The Refugee Action Coalition says there is no future for the asylum seekers still stuck on Nauru, following the announcement that a funding deal for the Regional Processing Centre has been reached with Australia. Nauru's President David Adeang made the announcement last month in parliament. A Nauru government report states that, of the 93 transferees on Nauru, four have been granted refugee status, and 89 asylum seekers are undergoing the appeals process. The refugee coalition's spokesperson Ian Rintoul said options are very limited for the asylum seekers. "If there's four people have been found to be refugees, and the rest are actually going through an appeal process... it's an indication that there's some very real problem I think, with the processing on Nauru." When asked what the long-term funding arrangement meant for those living there, he said they have no future. "People that are on Nauru are there indefinitely," he said. "That's one of the big problems, is that the government has talked about long-term funding for Nauru, but they've got no third country resettlement options." Rintoul said the Australian offshore detention position is unlikely to change despite Saturday's election. Australian governments have been sending people seeking asylum to Nauru, and also, previously, to PNG, under policy the country's boarder protection policy. Its regional processing and resettlement stance is aimed at deterring people trying to reach the country illegally by boats. The Australian government has maintained this position since 19 July 2013, that anyone who attempts to get into Australia illegally by boat would ever settle in the country. Rintoul said Labor and the Liberals continue to sing from the same songsheet about refugees. He said a new rule will allow Australia to remove not just those arriving illegally by sea, but those presently in the country. A parliament summary said this bill - passed late last year - would allow the minister to issue written directions to a "removal pathway non-citizen" to facilitate their removal from Australia; introduce criminal penalties for refusing or failing to comply with such directions; and empower the Minister to reverse a protection finding in relation to a lawful non-citizen who is on a removal pathway. "The new deportation legislation allows the government of the day to remove some of those people to Nauru, and the Labor government was quite happy to cooperate with the liberals, use their votes to push that legislation through," Rintoul said. "Certainly, the refugee movement in Australia will be looking to take up the protest movement again after the election on Saturday, to push the issue of refugees, their human rights and a welcome-refugee policy that desperately needs to be implemented in Australia, and including that is to end offshore detention." Earlier this year, the UN Human Rights Commission published its decisions on two cases involving refugees who complained about their treatment at Nauru's regional processing facility . The committee stated that Australia remained responsible for the health and welfare of refugees and asylum seekers detained in Nauru. "A state party cannot escape its human rights responsibility when outsourcing asylum processing to another state," committee member Mahjoub El Haiba said. After the decisions were released, a spokesperson for the Australian Home Affairs Department said " it has been the Australian Government's consistent position that Australia does not exercise effective control over regional processing centres" . Canberra opposed the allegations put to the committee, saying there was no prima facie substantiation that the alleged violations in Nauru had occurred within Australia's jurisdiction, but the UN committee disagreed. Meanwhile, the governments of Australia and New Zealand formlised a refugee settlement arrangement in March 2022. Under the arrangement, New Zealand will settle up to 150 refugees per year until June 2025 (up to 450 in three years).
The Hill
17-02-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Australia plans to deport 3 violent criminals to Nauru
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia will soon deport three violent criminals including a convicted murderer to Nauru even though they are not citizens of the tiny Pacific atoll, after an Australian court ruled that dangerous immigrants can no longer be imprisoned indefinitely. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Sunday that three 'violent offenders' had been issued 30-year Nauru visas on Saturday. Opposition leader Peter Dutton said on Monday that more than 200 immigrants with criminal records who could not be deported would remain in Australia despite the Nauru deal. 'The government's claiming they're going to get rid of three criminals, but there'll still be more than 200 left,' Dutton told reporters. Nauru's President David Adeang was due to give a statement to local news outlets on Monday about 'new arrangements with Australia on the resettling of non-citizens,' according to a post on the government's Facebook page on Sunday. The statement was not available online Monday afternoon and Adeang's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Australian High Court forces the release of more than 200 immigrants An Australian High Court decision in 2023 overturned the government's policy of leaving in detention immigrants who failed Australia's character test, usually because of criminal conduct. The government said they could not be deported. Countries including Afghanistan are considered unsafe for their nationals to be repatriated. Iran refuses to accept Iranians who are not returning voluntarily. The test case was brought by a member of Myanmar's persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority identified in court as NZYQ. NZYQ was brought to Australia in a people smuggler's boat in 2012 and raped a child soon after being released into the Australian community. He served a prison sentence and was then transferred into indefinite immigration detention until he won his court case. More than 200 immigrants who cannot be deported have been released from detention as a result of the NZYQ case. Some have committed more crimes and have returned to prison. The opposition has accused the government of failing to protect the community by freeing dangerous immigrants. The issue has damaged the government's popularity and elections are due by May 17. Three immigrants plan to fight deportation to Nauru in court Ian Rintoul, the Sydney-based director of the Australian advocacy group Refugee Action Coalition, said the three men scheduled to be sent to Nauru received lawyers on Monday. They intended to challenge their deportations in court, Rintoul said. One was an Iraqi and another an Iranian. Rintoul did not know the nationality of the third, but did not think he was NZYQ. Australia pays Nauru, a nation of 13,000 people, to house asylum seekers who attempt to reach Australia by boat. Australia has all but ended the trafficking of asylum seekers from Southeast Asian ports by refusing to resettle any who arrive by boat. Rintoul said almost 100 asylum seekers who remain Australia's responsibility are in Nauru waiting to be resettled. Burke declined to say how much Australia was paying Nauru to resettle the three criminals. Nauru had chosen them, and Burke declined to say why they were selected. Burke said more immigrants that Australia cannot deport could be sent to Nauru.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Australia plans to deport 3 violent criminals to Nauru
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia will soon deport three violent criminals including a convicted murderer to Nauru even though they are not citizens of the tiny Pacific atoll, after an Australian court ruled that dangerous immigrants can no longer be imprisoned indefinitely. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Sunday that three 'violent offenders' had been issued 30-year Nauru visas on Saturday. Opposition leader Peter Dutton said on Monday that more than 200 immigrants with criminal records who could not be deported would remain in Australia despite the Nauru deal. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. 'The government's claiming they're going to get rid of three criminals, but there'll still be more than 200 left,' Dutton told reporters. Nauru's President David Adeang was due to give a statement to local news outlets on Monday about 'new arrangements with Australia on the resettling of non-citizens,' according to a post on the government's Facebook page on Sunday. The statement was not available online Monday afternoon and Adeang's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Australian High Court forces the release of more than 200 immigrants An Australian High Court decision in 2023 overturned the government's policy of leaving in detention immigrants who failed Australia's character test, usually because of criminal conduct. The government said they could not be deported. Countries including Afghanistan are considered unsafe for their nationals to be repatriated. Iran refuses to accept Iranians who are not returning voluntarily. The test case was brought by a member of Myanmar's persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority identified in court as NZYQ. NZYQ was brought to Australia in a people smuggler's boat in 2012 and raped a child soon after being released into the Australian community. He served a prison sentence and was then transferred into indefinite immigration detention until he won his court case. More than 200 immigrants who cannot be deported have been released from detention as a result of the NZYQ case. Some have committed more crimes and have returned to prison. The opposition has accused the government of failing to protect the community by freeing dangerous immigrants. The issue has damaged the government's popularity and elections are due by May 17. Three immigrants plan to fight deportation to Nauru in court Ian Rintoul, the Sydney-based director of the Australian advocacy group Refugee Action Coalition, said the three men scheduled to be sent to Nauru received lawyers on Monday. They intended to challenge their deportations in court, Rintoul said. One was an Iraqi and another an Iranian. Rintoul did not know the nationality of the third, but did not think he was NZYQ. Australia pays Nauru, a nation of 13,000 people, to house asylum seekers who attempt to reach Australia by boat. Australia has all but ended the trafficking of asylum seekers from Southeast Asian ports by refusing to resettle any who arrive by boat. Rintoul said almost 100 asylum seekers who remain Australia's responsibility are in Nauru waiting to be resettled. Burke declined to say how much Australia was paying Nauru to resettle the three criminals. Nauru had chosen them, and Burke declined to say why they were selected. Burke said more immigrants that Australia cannot deport could be sent to Nauru. ___ Associated Press writer Charlotte Graham-McLay in Wellington, New Zealand, contributed to this report.
