7 Sep 2011

Australia's Gillard won't push issue of asylum seekers at Forum

6:31 am on 7 September 2011

The Australian Prime Minister says she will not be pushing the issue of a processing centre for asylum seekers with Pacific leaders during this week's Pacific Islands Forum.

On her arrival in Auckland for the Forum, Julia Gillard said she would be happy to discuss the issue, though, if another leader wants to talk about it.

"I'm not intending to raise the issue with people smuggling, obviously if leaders want to raise the issue with me then I will discuss it with them, but it is premature for me to be pursuing that agenda here at this Forum given the High Court case of last week and that the government is still preparing its response."

Nauru's foreign minister, Dr Kieren Keke, says if Australia wishes to discuss the asylum seeker issue, then his country is happy to.

But he says it is not a priority for Nauru.

But in terms of the hosting of the centre, Nauru has done it in the past, it worked well, if it was seen to be part of future plans, we are happy to discuss that.

Nauru's foreign minister, Dr Kieren Keke.