NAURU: Urgent talks sought over closure of Aus detention centre
Updated
The decision by the new Australian government to close its asylum seeker processing centre on Nauru has been hailed as an important step by international human rights activists. Part of the previous Australian government's 'Pacific Solution' to curb illegal immigration, the detention centre's six year history was marked by constant criticism for its role in the long term incarceration of refugees. But for Nauru, still reeling from the loss of its phosphate mining wealth, the closure will mean a massive decrease in national revenue and an increase in its unemployment rate. Nauru's foreign affairs and finance minister, David Adeang, says the prospect is causing anxiety within the government which is seeking urgent talks with Australia.
Presenter: Bo Hill
Speakers: David Adeang, Nauru's foreign affairs and finance minister
ADEANG: we understand it will be there will be major negative implications for our people here. The unemployment rate will increase significantly. Of course the indirect revenues that we receive also from the centre will effect the integrity of our budget and all this is a matter of great concern for our government. We understand that it's imminent, it's practically inevitable that the centre will be closed as a result of the change in policy by the Australian government and that's the perogative of the Australian government, really, we accept that. We have made contact with the new Australian government to seek an early audience for us to discuss the implications of such a closure and how it would impact on our economy.
HILL: Have you had any response from that request?
ADEANG: No not yet, we haven't but we appreciate the fuill agenda that any new government has to bear. We're patient, though we'd like to have these discussions sooner rather than later.
HILL : Prior to the change of government had you been approached by the Labor Party in Australia about their plans for the processing centre?
ADEANG: No, not directly, but we pay close attention to media releases and public statements made by the Rudd government before it assumed office, we understand their position and we accept of course it is their perogative to make these policy decisions. We understand how elections work, we are politicians ourselves. They're bound by their mandate to honour the promises that were made to the electorate. We practically do the same here, and we respect for the decision they make. How they implement them is again a matter of perogative for the new government of Australia. We simply stand by and wait, with some anxiety I guess I should admit, as to when we should be having these discussions.
HILL: So what will the Nauru government be taking to any discussion with the Australian government?
ADEANG: Well, the details are not set yet, but you know we think we would want to work in partnership with the new Rudd government, looking for a gradual and orderly cessation of the activities of the offshore processing centre. And one in which the economic implications be managed and sequenced right in order to cushion its impacts as much as possible.
HILL: Would an increase in aid also be one of your requests?
ADEANG: It really depends on our discussions. We would of course, I guess, be including some of that in terms of managing the implications of such a closure. But, you know, the agenda hasn't been set and we'd like to leave our options as flexible as possible. There are broader obligations in terms of the bilateral relationship in the sense that we have a very healthy relationship based on the partnership in finding a sustainable and viable future for Nauru and, of course, the aid thats awarded to Nauru on an annual basis is based on this principle, and of course it would tend to go against the grain if, for instance, the offshore pricessing centre was to be hastily wound up considering it would have such a major negative impact on the economy. And these are the nature of the discussions that we would want to have with the new government.
