A phone call over the weekend between President Trump and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed that the agreed refugee swap between the two countries is to go ahead.
On Saturday, President Trump signed an executive order ceasing immediately his own country’s refugee program, throwing into doubt the deal made between Malcolm Turnbull and then President Barak Obama in November last year. However, in what would no doubt have come as a relief to the PM, a phone call on Sunday apparently allayed any doubts about the agreement going ahead.
Before the call, Mr Turnbull highlighted the clause in President Trump’s executive order that pre-existing international agreements could still be honoured, allowing the admission of refugees. “We are very confident and satisfied that existing arrangements will continue,” Mr Turnbull said. It’s hoped that refugees will start to be moved from Nauru and Manus Island this year.
President Trump’s executive order has, however, thrown the travel plans of thousands, including Australians, into chaos. Citizens of Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Somalia, Libya and Yemen, have been temporarily barred from entering the US for a period of 90 days, even if their plans had been pre-approved. This affects Australians with dual passports. In a statement to the Wall Street Journal, the US State Department said, “Travellers who have nationality or dual nationality of one of these countries will not be permitted for 90 days to enter the United States or be issued an immigrant or non-immigrant visa.”
On Saturday, those affected by the ban were detained at airports and even removed from flights. According to a White House press pool report, the President has said, “It’s not a Muslim ban, but we were totally prepared. It’s working out very nicely. You see it at the airports, you see it all over.”
Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, who is currently in the US attending G’Day USA celebrations, has said that she has held “two very constructive conversations” about the ban with Vice President Mike Pence. “I have had two very constructive conversations now over the past two days with Vice President Mike Pence and he reiterated the significance of the Australian and United States relationship,” Ms Bishop said.
“He was very well briefed on all of the details of the United States and Australian alliance and I am confident that we will continue to build our alliance and it will continue to go from strength to strength.”
Read more at ABC.net.au
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Opinion: Deal at the mercy of President Trump
He’s only been President for a week yet already Donald Trump has begun to carry out his promise of fortifying US borders. Not only has his immigration ban hit hard, but the Mexicans are also on notice of a wall being built between the two countries.
While many will have their opinions about whether or not what he is doing is right, the fact is that Trump was voted as President on the very policies that he’s now implementing.
So where does this leave Australia and the refugee resettlement deal? Or indeed, the Australian travellers who have had their plans thrown into disarray. To put it simply: at the mercy of a man and an administration that has no fear of retribution. Such is the confidence and bravado of Donald Trump that he will act on his every whim, confident that his hand chosen gang of elder statesmen (I’m sure there’s a token woman or two in there) will back him to the hilt.
Malcolm Turnbull may have been confident pre-phone call to President Trump that the refugee resettlement deal will go ahead, but post-phone call, there has been something of a deafening silence. With no confirmation from the Prime Minister’s office or Government statement, we can only assume the deal will be honoured, however, seeing is believing.
For Malcolm Turnbull, the challenges of dealing with the strong personality that is Donald Trump will be a true test of his mettle. Let’s hope he’s able to hold his nerve.
What do you think? Do you agree with President Trump’s temporary immigration ban? Do you think the refugee resettlement agreement will go ahead? Is Malcolm Turnbull capable of holding his own against President Trump?
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