Abbott government beefs up staff for ‘Cambodian solution’
The Abbott government has sent a senior official to Phnom Penh to take charge of a controversial scheme to resettle refugees from Australia, even before Cambodia signs an agreement to accept them. Australia has also boosted the staff of its embassy in the Cambodian capital by 10, according to the Phnom Penh Post. Greg Kelly, who previously worked as co-manager in the support office of international people smuggling forum, the Bali Process, started work at the embassy on Wednesday, the newspaper reported. Mr Kelly will head Australia’s handling of the arrival of up to 1000 refugees from Nauru under an agreement that is expected to be signed soon with Cambodia’s leaders. The agreement that has been negotiated in strict secrecy at Australia’s request has prompted widespread criticism from human rights groups, opposition Cambodian MPs and refugee advocacy groups. …
Lindsay Murdoch
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/abbott-government-beefs-up-staff-for-cambodian-solution-20140816-104x0b.html
