NAURU DEMONSTRATIONS WILL NOT ALTER AUSTRALIA’S POSITION
The Minister for Immigration
and Border Protection Peter Dutton said today that refugee
demonstrations on Nauru would have no influence on the Australian
Government's policies.
Mr Dutton said the
Government remained absolutely determined to ensure that illegal
maritime arrivals (IMAs) would not be settled in
Australia.
"If people who have been
resettled on Nauru believe that these activities will change
Australia's position - they are wrong," Mr Dutton
said.
"I note that Nauru's
President has stated that his Government believes Australian
refugee activists are trying to provoke violence to achieve a
political agenda.
"I say clearly to those who
have been settled on Nauru that they should disregard any advice by
so-called advocates that this behavior will change outcomes - it
will not.
"I believe Nauru's
authorities have acted with restraint in the face of some days of
these provocative actions and understandably Nauru's police will
deal with any breaches of Nauruan law.
"If people breach the law
then they should expect to face the consequences of their
actions."
Mr Dutton said the Nauruan
Government and the people of Nauru had generously accepted and
helped people to settle within their community and in turn they
deserved gratitude and respect.
"My message to those who
protest is that it will not change the Australian Government's
commitment to the processing and resettlement arrangements in place
on Nauru.
"We are committed to
supporting the Government of Nauru in hosting the Regional
Processing Centre.
"Let me reiterate - those
who come illegally by boat will never be settled in
Australia."