Canberra, 29 August 2017
Statement by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Regional Representation in Canberra
Australia should not coerce vulnerable people to return to harm
The Australian Government’s announced change in legal status and withdrawal
of support to refugees and asylum-seekers is a blatant attempt to coerce the
most vulnerable to return to Papua New Guinea, Nauru, or their countries of
origin. Removing accommodation and financial support leaves people at serious
risk of destitution in Australia. Equally, the withdrawal of access to basic
services such as trauma and torture counselling will exacerbate their already
precarious situation.
Approximately 400 refugees and asylum-seekers remain in community
detention in Australia, having been transferred from Papua New Guinea and Nauru
due to both serious medical and protection concerns. The Government of
Australia has implicitly recognized through these transfers that the conditions
there are unacceptable.
The Government has not granted these refugees and asylum-seekers the
right to work. Most were brought to Australia with acute medical needs. To
claim abruptly that these same people should immediately support themselves
financially is unfair and unreasonable
Papua New Guinea and Nauru remain unsuitable as places of settlement for
refugees and asylum-seekers sent there by Australia. UNHCR has consistently
reported the impossibility of local integration on even a temporary basis for
the vast majority of refugees and asylum-seekers, along with concerns for their
physical security. Medical experts have repeatedly confirmed the urgent need
for medical and psychological services which are unavailable in Papua New
Guinea and Nauru.
The majority of asylum-seekers transferred from Papua New Guinea and
Nauru to Australia have still not had their claims for international protection
determined after more than four years. Until their asylum claims are finalized,
they should not be returned to their countries of origin. Going home is not an
option for those who have a fear of serious harm and persecution.
As a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, Australia remains
responsible for those who have sought its protection. This includes a duty to
consider claims for international protection fairly and efficiently, and to
provide refugees and asylum-seekers with a minimum standard of living which is
humane and dignified.
Those who have suffered most under inhumane conditions in Papua New
Guinea and Nauru need care and compassion. Refugees and asylum-seekers who have
been transferred to Australia, like all refugees and asylum-seekers, should be
provided with adequate support and a much-needed long term solution outside of
Papua New Guinea and Nauru.
Background
Since the adoption of Australia’s current “offshore processing”
arrangements to forcibly transfer refugees and asylum-seekers to Nauru and
Papua New Guinea, individuals have been returned to Australia due to serious
medical conditions that are unable to be treated in those countries, as well as
protection concerns. At present, approximately 400 individuals are in
community detention, having been re-transferred to Australia from Papua New
Guinea and Nauru.
As of 29 August 2017, approximately 70 of these highly
vulnerable people have been informed by the Department of Immigration and
Border Protection that they will be issued with a new “Final Departure Bridging
Visa E.”
Under the six-month term of this visa, asylum-seekers and refugees will
be permitted to work. Those over 18 years of age are not permitted to study or
undertake training courses.
Further, financial payments of AUD 200 per
fortnight will immediately cease upon issuance of this visa, and
government-supported housing will be withdrawn three weeks after. Although
Medicare (Government-funded health care) will be provided, access to other
services, notably Government-funded torture trauma services, will
cease. Initially, the visa has been issued to adult asylum-seekers and
refugees currently in community detention, who are not accompanied by
family.
The group of people potentially affected includes 400 people,
including families and over 100 children. A majority of affected refugees and
asylum-seekers are reported to be Iranian, Syrian, Afghan, Sri Lankan and
stateless people.
Long-term solutions are needed for all people transferred by Australia
to Papua New Guinea and Nauru since 2013. For those refugees who wish to be
considered for relocation under the bilateral Australia-United States
agreement, return to Papua New Guinea or Nauru respectively should not be a
precondition to such consideration.
Australia’s National Audit Office confirms that holding refugees and
asylum-seekers in “offshore processing” facilities costs approximately 15 times
more than allowing them to live in community detention in Australia.
END
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