Australia rejects a NZ offer to resettle 150 refugees

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has again knocked back a New Zealand offer to resettle 150 refugees, as the Manus Island Detention Centre stand-off continues.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull greets New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern before their meeting in Sydney, Australia, November 5, 2017. (AAP) Source: AAP

Mr Turnbull held weekend bilateral talks with New Zealand leader Jacinda Ardern in Sydney.The New Zealand prime minister has once again reiterated the 2013 offer to take 150 refugees. "I did renew again New Zealand's offer to take 150 refugees from Manus and Nauru. New Zealand holds an obligation generally to make sure that we maintain our obligations to the United Nations to take refugees". Jacinda Ardern says the offer is genuine and remains on the table. Mr Turnbull says the offer was rejected due to concern that accepting it might send an unwanted signal to people smugglers. "We saw over 50,000 unlawful arrivals and 1,200 deaths at sea. Australia's Immigration policy was being outsourced to people smugglers, the worst of the worst criminals. There were 8,000 children in detention at one point. It was a catastrophe." Mr Turnbull says the government's focus remains on the U-S refugee resettlement deal, which could take up to 1,250 people."As you know we have an arrangement with the United States whereby a substantial number - 1250 - can, subject to the United States' rigorous vetting be settled in the US. And we're pursuing those arrangements at the moment. and that is our commitment.So far, 54 people have been accepted by the U-S.