The Australian government’s agreement to resettle refugees in Papua New Guinea is again facing further delays after the PNG prime minister announced a brand new policy would be prepared because of a lack of public support.



Peter O’Neill gave Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison the news during a surprise visit by the Australians to PNG en route to the inauguration of new Indonesian president Joko Widodo.

The decision is likely to further delay resettlement from the Australian-run Manus Island detention centre, as O’Neill has instructed the new policy not even be considered by cabinet until after public awareness campaigns and further consultations are carried out.

Abbott and Morrison discussed the regional resettlement arrangement (RRA) between the Australian and PNG governments, O’Neill said in a statement.

He told Abbott and Morrison that PNG is committed to the RRA but needs time to “work through the issues.”

Due to a lack of understanding and support for refugee settlement in PNG communities O’Neill has instructed the preparation of an entirely new policy “with increased focus on consultations and building public awareness and support,” the statement said.

“The new policy will be considered by cabinet after these comprehensive public awareness and consultations are completed,” said O’Neill.

The resettlement of people from the Manus Island detention centre into Papua New Guinea has been plagued by delays, despite Abbott predicting earlier this year that the process would begin in May or June. The slow process and lack of a resettlement policy have been criticised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Amnesty International.

At a joint press conference in March, both O’Neill and Abbott said the process towards a resettlement program was ongoing, with O’Neill adding that “there are already some communities in the country who have already offered to participate in this programme.”

And PNG foreign minister Rimbink Pato told Guardian Australia last month that a new cabinet submission would break up resettlement from other asylum seeker related policies and speed up the process.

However O’Neill’s latest announcement appears to be starting afresh.

As of the end of September there were 1060 people still being detained at Manus Island. At the same time, 84 Refugee Status Interim Determination assessments had been completed with 44 found to be positive.

The assessments are a recommendation only, and do not grant refugee status or resettlement arrangements until the PNG government finalises appropriate legislation.

The final decision rests with the PNG immigration minister, who can chose to reject the recommendation.

O’Neill also told Abbott and Morrison that after an “unfortunate incident,” at the centre, measures had been taken to improve security and processing management.

Reza Barati, a 23-year-old Iranian man was killed during unrest at the centre in February.

“There is now improved coordination between the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Services Authority (ICSA), Police and center security, installation of CCTV cameras and the refugee status determination process is progressing.”

The opposition immigration spokesman, Richard Marles, accused Morrison of allowing the plan to be “mothballed” and said the minister’s “lack of engagement has played a significant role” in delaying the resettlement of refugees.

“Maintaining a proactive dialogue with PNG was critical in reaching the Regional Resettlement Arrangement that Labor signed with Papua New Guinea in July of last year,’ said Marles in a statement.

“Scott Morrison needs to start taking responsibility for his disastrous handling of this key agreement, including his failure to actively engage with the Papua New Guinea government until after the riot at the Manus Island facility in February of this year.”

Abbott, O’Neill and Morrison also discussed possible responses to any potential outbreak of ebola virus in the region.

Morrison’s office did not respond to requests for comment.