Australia rejects criticism over migrant crisis
Australia hit back Friday at criticism of its response to thousands of migrants stranded at sea in Southeast Asia, saying it was generous towards refugees in the region.
When asked Thursday whether Australia would offer to resettle the migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar's oppressed Rohingya minority, Prime Minister Tony Abbott replied, "nope, nope, nope".
The reaction led an Indonesian official to suggest the country was shirking its responsibilities under the United Nations Refugee Convention.
But Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said Australia's hardline policy, which includes refusing to resettle asylum-seekers who arrive on boats and turning back vessels, had helped stop people risking their lives at sea.
Australia was a significant donor to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Indonesia, he said.
Australia currently takes in about 13,750 refugees under its humanitarian programme each year.
Dutton said that with millions of people displaced around the world, Australia could not help everyone.
As the migrant crisis unfolded, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand were heavily criticised for refusing to take in boats overloaded with passengers fleeing poverty or persecution.
Abbott also stood by his earlier statement, saying Friday it would be "utterly irresponsible" to do anything that could encourage people to take to the sea in boats.
Comments