Asylum Seekers in PNG face threat of deportation due to lack of funding from Australia

13-10-2023

Nuno Daun

Southeast Asia & Pacific Team 

Global Human Rights Defence

Background

Many asylum seekers who try to flee to Australia were often detained at Christmas Island, an Australian territory, and then sent to a Papua New Guinean detention center under the notion that administrative migration matters are being resolved and that they should be out of the detention center in a matter of weeks. However, many refugees are held in detention centers in Papua New Guinea for years on end, with some refugees claiming to have been in detention for over a decade. Most refugees were sent to Papua New Guinea in 2013 and 2014.

In 2021, Papua New Guinea and Australia signed a bilateral agreement for a non-disclosed amount in which Papua New Guinea would agree to take Australia’s refugees and the Australian government would then pay for the settlement, welfare and health of those sent there by Australia. The funding of the program is supposed to continue until the last refugee leaves Papua New Guinean territory, as per Papua New Guineans immigration authorities. 

During the time of Australia’s presence in Papua New Guinea, there were several incidents of violence, hunger strikes and the murder of an asylum seeker at the hand of the detention center guards. In total, 13 deaths were reported in Papua New Guinea as a result of violence, lack of medical care and suicide.

Current Affairs

Many asylum seekers are currently facing a threat of being evicted to Australia. Stanis Hulahau, Papua New Guinea’s Chief Migration Officer, issued a statement saying that if “Australia wants the refugees to remain in Papua New Guinea, then they have to fund the program, or we'll shut it down and send the refugees back to Australia.” The detention center of Nauru remains open costing $350M a year. Papua New Guinea alleges that Australia’s last payment was in the summer of 2022. Australia however, is set to stop sending asylum seekers to Papua New Guinea. Thus, marking the end of its controversial detention system.

There are roughly 120 remaining asylum seekers in Papua New Guinea who currently face an uncertain future. Activists are petitioning the Australian government to safely resettle the remaining asylum seekers. The majority of asylum seekers attempted to reach Australia via boat, the justification for the opening of detention centers by the Australian government in Papua New Guinea was to “prevent deaths at sea.” However, off-shore and indefinite detention status has been controversial. Various human rights groups and the United Nations urged Australia to change its refugee policies regarding the detention centers in Papua New Guinea, constituting inhumane treatment, a clear breach of international law.

Sources and further readings:

• Tim Swanston and Hannah Meagher, ‘Papua New Guinea refugees face threat of eviction’ ABC News (10 October 2023) https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-10/papua-new-guinea-refugees-face-threat-of-eviction/102959006 accessed 13 October 2023.
• Rebecca Kuku, Ben Doherty and Paul Karp, ‘PNG threatens to send refugees back to Australia unless it keeps funding humanitarian program’ The Guardian (7 October 2023) < https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/07/png-threatens-to-send-refugees-back-to-australia-unless-it-pays-up-to-48m-in-expenses> accessed 13 October 2023.
• Paul Karp, ‘Asylum seekers sent to Nauru by Australian government only months after last detainees were removed’ The Guardian (4 October 2023) https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/04/asylum-seekers-sent-to-nauru-by-australian-government-only-months-after-last-detainees-were-removed accessed 13 October 2023.
• BBC News ‘Australia ends controversial asylum detention deal with Papua New Guinea’ (6 October 2023) https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-58812578 accessed 13 October 2023.