The Australian government says a secret funding deal took care of the bill for Manus Island refugees, but some in PNG disagree
1 year, 4 months ago

The Australian government says a secret funding deal took care of the bill for Manus Island refugees, but some in PNG disagree

ABC  

A humanitarian program in Papua New Guinea looking after former detainees of Manus Island is in crisis, with the potential to see about 60 refugees and asylum seekers without a home as soon as Thursday. Australia's Home Affairs department said it paid a substantial sum to PNG to take over “full and independent management” of the living arrangements under a confidential bilateral agreement signed in December 2021. But PNG's top migration official at the Immigration Citizenship and Services Authority said he was “working with Home Affairs for funding,” and has previously said it was highly likely ICSA could not "sustain the program any longer" without further funding from Australia. In December 2021, a confidential deal was struck between the two governments, with Australia giving PNG a "substantial" payment for it to take over the management of the remaining refugees and asylum seekers. A spokesperson for the department said the agreement meant that as of last year, "the PNG Government assumed full and independent management of individuals remaining in PNG".

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History of this topic

Australia grants PNG $570 million loan amid push for stricter foreign investment scrutiny
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Australia grants PNG $570 million loan amid push for stricter foreign investment scrutiny

ABC  

Papua New Guinea's government has promised not to push ahead with economically unviable infrastructure projects after Australia handed the cash-strapped Pacific nation a $570 million loan. The statement said that PNG's "security and stability is a fundamental Australian strategic interest" and helping PNG meet its budget shortfall would "support the continued funding of essential government services such as healthcare and …

PNG asylum seekers stripped of government-provided housing and healthcare under new deal
3 months, 2 weeks ago

PNG asylum seekers stripped of government-provided housing and healthcare under new deal

ABC  

Asylum seekers in Papua New Guinea will be stripped of government-provided housing and healthcare under a new deal that forces them to cover all living expenses with a single allowance. A fact sheet from the Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority says the asylum seekers will receive an 1800-kina fortnightly spend — or 900 kina each week –which equates to about …

Australia to provide $2 million in extra funding to assist with PNG's landslide recovery
9 months, 1 week ago

Australia to provide $2 million in extra funding to assist with PNG's landslide recovery

ABC  

The Australian Government has announced it will provide $2 million in extra funding to assist Papua New Guinea's recovery response to last month's devastating landslide in Enga Province. "It's always Australia that's the first country to come to our aid, we do not take your friendship for granted," PNG Defence Minister Dr Billy Joseph said. Australia announces a new program …

Australia announces new initiatives to help improve PNG's internal security, law and justice as part of major bilateral security agreement
9 months, 1 week ago

Australia announces new initiatives to help improve PNG's internal security, law and justice as part of major bilateral security agreement

ABC  

Australia has announced a package of initiatives aimed at strengthening Papua New Guinea's internal security and law and justice priorities under a major bilateral security agreement. "A stronger and safer Papua New Guinea is good for PNG and it is good for Australia," Senator Wong said. Australia, PNG sign new security pact Photo shows Australian PM Anthony Albanese and James …

While drama continues to develop at home, PNG prime minister touches down in Australia for historic speech
1 year, 1 month ago

While drama continues to develop at home, PNG prime minister touches down in Australia for historic speech

ABC  

In short: PNG's prime minister faces mounting unrest in the wake of January's deadly riots in Port Moresby, sparked by the country's poor economic prospects. Mr Marape's visit comes as China continues its efforts to expand security ties with Pacific nations, with PNG's leaders moving to reassure Australia it will not press ahead with any new policing agreements with Beijing. …

More than 60 refugees fear eviction as PNG and Australia disagree over 'outstanding invoices'
1 year, 5 months ago

More than 60 refugees fear eviction as PNG and Australia disagree over 'outstanding invoices'

ABC  

Shah Nawaz Hussain was just 19 when he fled his home in Pakistan to Indonesia, to board a boat destined for Christmas Island. He could have had no idea that what would follow would be a decade of living in Papua New Guinea, including years of detention on Manus Island under Australia's "PNG Solution". PNG's top migration official claims the …

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape orders corruption watchdog to investigate PNG Ports
2 years ago

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape orders corruption watchdog to investigate PNG Ports

ABC  

The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape says the country's corruption watchdog will investigate the state-owned PNG Ports Corporation in response to revelations by the ABC. Questionable payments made to top PNG Ports officials The ABC's Background Briefing and the OCCRP revealed questionable payments involving then top PNG Ports officials Fego Kiniafa and Stanley Alphonse around the time …

Australia and PNG agree to extend contracts for Manus Island asylum seeker services
5 years, 9 months ago

Australia and PNG agree to extend contracts for Manus Island asylum seeker services

ABC  

The Australian and Papua New Guinea governments have agreed to a limited extension of the contracts to provide services to asylum seekers, before the PNG Government takes over. Key points: PNG intends to assume responsibility for the delivery of services to asylum seekers on Manus Island The limited extension of existing contracts is designed to allow time for that to …

Manus Island: PNG Government under fire from Opposition, Greens after keeping asylum facility open
8 years, 5 months ago

Manus Island: PNG Government under fire from Opposition, Greens after keeping asylum facility open

ABC  

Papua New Guinea's Opposition Leader and the Australian Greens have called on the PNG Government to respect a supreme court decision ordering the closure of Australia's offshore detention facilities on Manus Island. ABC's FactCheck investigates "We have a refugee transit centre for purpose of resettlement in Papua New Guinea, and to all those who do not want to be settling …

PNG Government says refugee assessments on Manus Island have been completed
8 years, 11 months ago

PNG Government says refugee assessments on Manus Island have been completed

ABC  

The Papua New Guinea Government says it has finished assessing whether the asylum seekers detained on Australia's behalf on Manus Island are refugees. Detainees said centre staff and immigration authorities were using a range of measures — including removing "credit points" used to make phone calls or buy cigarettes and restricting access to English classes — to make the refugees …

PNG court overturns Aust police immunity
19 years, 10 months ago

PNG court overturns Aust police immunity

ABC  

Australian police might soon be heading home from Papua New Guinea after the country's Supreme Court overturned their legal immunity. The Enhanced Cooperation Program, a billion dollar aid package that has placed Australian police and public servants in PNG, was ruled unconstitutional. Governor of Morabi province, Luther Wenge, claimed the agreement was in breach of the constitution and this morning …

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