Fed: Asylum seekers on Christmas Island could move to Nauru

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-2001
Fed: Asylum seekers on Christmas Island could move to Nauru

The Federal Government may still ask Nauru to house more asylum seekers after striking
a deal with the island nation just yesterday to take another 400.

A group of 400 asylum seekers on Christmas Island may soon be heading for Nauru after
the deal struck yesterday by Foreign Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER.

Nauru will receive $10 million to fund health, education and environment programs in
return for accepting the boatpeople into its processing camps.

The latest deal will take the number of asylum seekers being housed on the tiny Pacific
island nation to almost 1,200.

And Mr DOWNER has not ruled out asking Nauru to house more people.

He told the Nine Network that Australia would deal with the issue on a step-by-step basis.

Mr DOWNER says any remaining asylum seekers on Christmas Island may be transferred
to Papua New Guinea.

Mr DOWNER is now on his way to meet officials in Fiji.

AAP RTV lm/aa/rt

KEYWORD: BOAT DOWNER (CANBERRA)

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