Transcript
For six years Australia has refused to resettle asylum seekers that arrive by boat, an anniversary marked by nation wide protests in Australia last week and a rallying cry to free those detained offshore.
At the same time, New Zealand's prime minister was in Australia restating the offer to take 150 of the refugees each year.
The Australian government MP Russell Broadbent told the ABC the offer should be accepted.
"And if the New Zealand's offer is there and on the table, I've been an advocate for a long time to take the opportunity to take 150 because that's 150 perhaps year on year that we wouldn't be dealing with you now. The generous, heartfelt offer from the New Zealanders is very welcome by me."
Six years of indefinite detention has destroyed the mental health of many detained offshore, and from Manus Island the Sri Lankan refugee Shaminda Kanapathi has again called for New Zealand asylum.
"Constant refusal to accept New Zealand's offer of resettlement is inexplicable. Resettlement in PNG is impossible. We ask the Australian government to accept the New Zealand offer."
Canberra has long argued New Zealand would provide a back door for the refugees to enter Australia, but Mr Broadbent says that could be avoided.
"There can be visa restrictions on people going to New Zealand just as we can put visa restrictions on anybody we like coming into this country. But we can't continue with indefinite detention. We can't."
Ending indefinite detention is a sentiment shared by PNG's new prime minister James Marape, who visited Canberra this week to announce a timetable would be agreed to remove about 450 refugees from his country.
"I've expressed clearly to Minister Dutton that we need to establish a schedule and timetable towards full closure of the entire asylum processes. We will ensure that we have a mutually workable timetable and closure programme that is healthy for all of us but more importantly healthy for those people who have been part of us in Manus and now in PNG for some time now. That's a work in progress but both governments have agreed to establish a schedule going forward."
Mr Marape also echoed the dubious position of his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison that refugees are no longer detained in PNG.
"There is no detention centre on Manus Island."
But from one of three refugee compounds on Manus, Mr Kanapathi refutes this position.
"We are still being detained on Manus Island. We are not allowed to leave the camps after 6pm until 6am in the morning. Half of the day we are locked up in these detention centres."
Australian senator Nick McKim was refused entry to one of the compounds last week and deported from Manus. He says its time to accept the New Zealand offer.
"Six years of brutality, six years of dehumanisation, six years of no freedom and no safety and it's just too long. Scott Morrison says he preys for the refugees and he cries at night. Well if he wants a good night sleep he should accept Prime Minister Arden's very generous offer and we could get these guys to freedom and safety which is what hey need."
