Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop travelled to the US to meet with new Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Ms Bishop clarified earlier comments from immigration minister Peter Dutton, in which he linked the Turnbull Government’s refugee deal with the Obama administration to Australia’s plans to resettle Central American refugees. Ms Bishop stated that the ‘people swap’ was not contingent on Australia’s resettlement plans.
Refugee advocates say about 80 asylum seekers will not lose their mobile phones following an injunction stopping Australian Border Force staff from confiscating them.
A Vietnamese asylum seeker returned by Australia in 2015 was sentenced to three years in prison for illegally leaving the country.