Fiji said on Monday an “arrogant” Australia was dumping problems on its Pacific neighbours by deciding to resettle boat-borne asylum-seekers in Papua New Guinea.
Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola said Australia had “shocked” Fiji when it unveiled the policy this month with no consultation in the region.
“We cannot remain silent when the Australian government dumps this problem, which is arguably of its own making, on our doormat,” he told a function in Brisbane in remarks posted on the Fiji government website.
This deal continues a pattern of behaviour on the part of the Australian government that is inconsiderate, prescriptive, high-handed and arrogant
“This deal continues a pattern of behaviour on the part of the Australian government that is inconsiderate, prescriptive, high-handed and arrogant.”
Under the new policy, asylum-seekers arriving by boat will not only have be processed at a camp on PNG’s Manus Island, they will also be permanently resettled in the poor Pacific nation even if found to be genuine refugees.
The UN has raised concerns about the policy, which Canberra says is designed to stop record number of boatpeople attempting the perilous voyage to Australian waters. This has led to hundreds of people drowning when overloaded boats sank.
Kubuabola said he was concerned about the potential impact of asylum-seekers being resettled in the Melanesia region, which includes PNG, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands.
