The federal government has asked Cambodia to accept asylum seekers attempting to reach Australian soil, in a move similar to an agreement bewteen Malaysia and the former Labor government in 2011, the Reuters news agency reports.
The discussions took place during a meeting between Australia’s foreign minister Julie Bishop and Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong in Phnom Penh.
SBS has attempted to gain confirmation from the Australian government.
In a press conference, Mr Namhong said Cambodia has changed significantly since the end of a decades-long war in the country.
"The Australian minister has requested that Cambodia takes in some refugees", Mr Namhong said.
"In the past, Cambodians have fled their country to other countries but now, it's time that Cambodia takes in refugees from other countries," he said.
''My Prime Minister and myself this morning have told Australia that Cambodia will consider very seriously the request of Australia", Fairfax media reported Mr Namhong as saying.
During the same press conference, Ms Bishop said issues regarding people smuggling were discussed during the meeting but did not provide further detail.
"We did acknowledge Cambodia's role as part of the Bali process discuss the cooperation that has existed in the area of transnational crime, people smuggling, human trafficking, drug trafficking that has been significantly level of cooperation between the law enforcement agencies and most definitely some join operations that has been of some consideration success."
Greens leader Christine Milne said on Sunday Australia was disgracing itself globally, AAP reported.
"Once again again its is appeasement of an anti-democratic regime, just like Tony Abbott did in Sri Lanka," she told reporters in Hobart.
"Why isn't Australia standing up for the opposition and the examination of the election rorting that went on in Cambodia rather than appeasing the regime and trying to outsource Australia's asylum seeker responsibilities?"
Cambodia's opposition party has boycotted parliament since the July elections, alleging widespread vote rigging, and its leaders were taken to court in January for inciting civil unrest.
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