17 Feb 2022

Australia closer to accepting NZ offer to take refugees

From Midday Report, 12:17 pm on 17 February 2022

To Australia now where their government is inching closer to settling a nine-year-old offer by New Zealand to accept 150 refugees each year from offshore detention centres.

Australian Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo says there's an "in principle" deal, but he's still worried it could provide a back door into Australia.

New Zealand's government says it's been made clear to Australia any agreement would need Cabinet approval, and negotiations continue at "relevant officials levels", including the Foreign Ministry and Immigration.

The Sydney Morning Herald's foreign affairs and national security correspondent Anthony Galloway spoke to Māni Dunlop.