PM Malcolm Turnbull Friday hinted that he could one day accept New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s offer to take 150 refugees currently held on Manus Island.
Talking to reporters in Sydney Turnbull said he was open to future talks with Ms Ardern, once an existing deal with the US to take up to 1,250 people from Australian offshore detention was completed.
“We thank them for the offer, they’ve kept it outstanding,” AAP quoted him as saying.
“But, our focus is on completing the re-settlement arrangements with the United States, which, of course, covers up to 1250 refugees.”
So far 54 people have been sent to the US from the detention centres on Nauru and Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island.
“So, we’ll complete that, and then when that is complete, then we can reconsider the New Zealand proposal,” Mr Turnbull said.
