Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

First of all, can I disabuse the honourable senator of using the word 'dumping' people on certain nations because, when you are talking about dumping people, that actually reflects on the people about whom you speak.

Can I indicate that the processing of asylum seeker applications is underway in Papua New Guinea. The government there have indicated they will be in a position to start resettling people by about May of this year, but let me also be very clear, none of them will be coming to Australia. The agreement with Papua New Guinea is very clear. Asylum seekers will be resettled in Papua New Guinea and if there are any other nations that are prepared to get involved with that then those opportunities will, of course, be pursued. People found not to be refugees will overstay in detention or they will be returned to their home country.