Senior diplomat sent to manage Australia’s new refugee program in Cambodia
The Australian Embassy in Phnom Penh where, after months of negotiations, Australia and Cambodia look set to agree on a deal which will see 1000 refugees transferred from Australia to Cambodia. (Photo by Omar Havana/Getty Images) (Photo by Omar Havana/Getty Images)
The federal government has reportedly taken steps toward a new approach to refugees, dispatching a senior official to Cambodia ahead of an expected agreement with the Southeast Asian nation.
The Phnom Penh Post have reported that Greg Kelly, a former manager with international people smuggling forum the Bali Process, started work at the Australian embassy in the Cambodian capital earlier this week.
It is believed that Mr Kelly will negotiate and manage the arrival of up to 1,000 refugees that would be transported to Cambodia from Nauru under the soon to be signed agreement.
United Nations refugee agency UNHCR said it had been briefed on the principles of an agreement between Australia and Cambodia, with spokeswoman Vivian Tan saying the organisation had “raised some concerns on the principles.”
Cambodia and Australia have reportedly conducted negotiations in secrecy in an effort to avoid criticism from human rights groups and Opposition MPs in both countries.
The revelation of a potential deal between Australia and Cambodia comes after Immigration Minister Scott Morrison last week described it as a “safe haven” for refugees.
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