<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/29/papua-new-guinea-refugees-evictions-unpaid-bills-rent>
"Refugees exiled to Papua New Guinea by Australia have been told they will be
evicted from their Australian-sponsored accommodation after bills were not paid
for more than a year.
The refugees and asylum seekers were formerly detained within Australia’s Manus
Island detention centre before it was ruled unlawful and ordered shut by PNG’s
supreme court. About 70 men remain held in PNG, most in rented accommodation in
Port Moresby.
The Australian government claims it is no longer responsible for the men, but
it continues to provide an undisclosed amount of money to PNG for accommodation
and welfare.
At least one refugee has already been forcibly evicted from his accommodation,
while four others have been relocated. Another 17 have been threatened with
eviction.
Refugees say they have had services, such as electricity and television, cut
off, and have been told they will be evicted because of mounting unpaid bills,
with some running to as long as a year.
“Who is responsible? No one is taking responsibility,” one refugee told
Guardian Australia, adding he had been repeatedly threatened his eviction was
“coming soon”.
“I need to go out from here, from this country,” he said, speaking on condition
of anonymity for fear of retribution.
“No life and no future here … already a decade.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs said: “The department does
not have any role in the ongoing management of, or service delivery
arrangements for, individuals remaining in PNG.”
Australia has repeatedly stated it transferred responsibility for the men’s
welfare to the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority at the end of 2021.
Australia’s position is not supported by international law, which maintains
that Australia retains legal responsibility for those it has sent offshore.
Australia continues to pay for the men’s accommodation and welfare.
Documents uncovered before parliament this year show the Morrison government
signed a “confidential bilateral agreement” with PNG in December 2021. And the
Australian government continues to pay the PNG government’s Immigration and
Citizenship Authority to provide welfare and support for refugees exiled
offshore by Australia."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
