The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, has said Australia’s regional processing relationship with Nauru will continue for “decades”. Our relationship in this regard with Nauru will continue for decades,” Dutton said. Dutton indicated he would have no objections if people were sent to New Zealand, arguing that any resettlement was an issue between Nauru and New Zealand. “We have had people smugglers that have tried to send boats across the top of Australia to New Zealand before,” Dutton said. The immigration minister suggested criminal syndicates lacked the capacity during the Howard years to communicate quickly with one another about political statements being made in Australia.

Source: The Guardian September 15, 2016 08:48 UTC