PNG threatens to send refugees back to Australia unless it keeps funding humanitarian program. By Rebecca Kuku, Ben Doherty and Paul Karp, The Guardian

Refugees exiled to Papua New Guinea a decade ago will be sent back to Australia if the Australian government fails to continue funding PNG’s humanitarian program, Port Moresby’s most senior migration official has warned.

PNG’s chief migration officer, Stanis Hulahau, said the refugees had been abandoned by Australia and the PNG businesses that had been housing and caring for the men were owed tens of millions of dollars.

“If Australia wants the refugees to continue to remain in Papua New Guinea then they have to fund the program, or we will shut the program and send the refugees back to Australia,” Hulahau said.

PNG threatens to send refugees back to Australia unless it keeps funding humanitarian program. By Rebecca Kuku, Ben Doherty and Paul Karp, The Guardian