Key Phnom Penh posting suggests Australia’s asylum seeker deal with Cambodia is almost done

18 August 2014
The Sydney Morning Herald
Government / Human rights / International relations / Social development
Australian aid / Craig Chittick / Julie Bishop / Nauru / People Smuggling Issues / UNHCR / United Nations / United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Australia has reportedly installed a key immigration bureaucrat in its Phnom Penh embassy as the government prepares to send up to 1000 asylum seekers in its care on Nauru to Cambodia. Greg Kelly, who formerly headed the detention operations division of the Immigration Department and managed the regional office of the Bali Process on people smuggling, has taken up a position as counsellor in the Phnom Penh embassy, sources in Cambodia have told Fairfax Media. Australia’s Ambassador for People Smuggling Issues, Craig Chittick, is expected in the country within days, fuelling rumours a deal is almost complete. The Australian and Cambodian governments remain in secret negotiations over the arrangement. …

 Ben Doherty and David Wroe
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/key-phnom-penh-posting-suggests-australias-asylum-seeker-deal-with-cambodia-is-almost-done-20140818-105htp.html