Australia and New Zealand are close to reaching agreement on a deal that will see refugees from Australia’s offshore detention program rehomed in New Zealand in the next few weeks.
Australian Home Affairs Department Secretary Mike Pezzullo has told a Senate Committee hearing on Monday that the longstanding offer from New Zealand to accept 150 refugees from Australia “would go back for a final round of negotiations”.
Negotiations have so far failed as Australia has insisted that refugees must not be able to enter Australia via the back door by gaining New Zealand citizenship and then being able to enter Australia. New Zealand to date has not agreed to put any additional conditions on visa’s or residencies that would be granted to refugees.
New Zealand is not saying if they have agreed to these conditions with any agreement needing to get cabinet approval.