Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™ LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Australia rejects New Zealand's refugee offer 'at this time'

Australia rejects New Zealand's refugee offer

Source: AAP

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has declined a long-standing New Zealand offer to resettle 150 refugees but kept the door open to further talks on the issue, as the Manus Island detention centre standoff enters its fifth day.

Mr Turnbull held bilateral talks with NZ leader Jacinda Ardern in Sydney on Sunday (05/11) morning.

He said the US refugee resettlement deal was the priority and then "in the wake of that obviously we can consider other ones".

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the offer to take 150 refugees from Manus Island is still under "active consideration" by Australia, however, Malcolm Turnbull says the government will not be taking up the offer at this time.


1 min read

Published

By Madhura Seneviratne




Share this with family and friends


Follow SBS Sinhala

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our exclusive in-language podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now