Papua New Guinea’s cabinet met to consider the proposal for a center to process asylum seekers who reach Australian waters.
A PNG government source described the proposal put by Julia Gillard’s special envoy Richard Marles as a revisitation of the Pacific Solution of the then-Howard government of Australia.
Acting PNG Prime Minister Sam Abal is believed to support the regional approach to handling refugees agreed to at an international forum in Bali in March. It is likely the Australian government will be asked to restructure the deal to reflect this, the source said.
PNG’s position follows a ‘’broadly positive’’ reception by the United Nations refugee agency of Australia’s deal to swap asylum seekers with Malaysia, saying it could discourage unsafe boat journeys.
UNHCR regional representative Richard Towle said the deal could result in improved ‘’burden sharing among countries in the region,’’ but his organization wanted more details.
‘’We think the agreement has the potential to contribute to the protection of refugees in Malaysia,’’ he said.
The federal government will pay the UNHCR to process 800 asylum seekers sent to Malaysia, spending $76 million over four years in administration.
Australia will accept 4000, already approved refugees from Malaysia over four years, and they will be released directly into the community.
