Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee [Part 2], , 48:48 to 54:17
Oversight of funding arrangements in PNG for former Manus Island refugees and the performance of the Vanguard training contract.
Topics: Papua New Guinea, Government spending
Speakers: Senator David Shoebridge, Michael Thomas, Stephanie Foster, Unknown Speaker, Clare Sharp
I'm now going to move to PNG. Is it with you again, Mr. Thomas and Mr. Sh?
>> Yes.
>> Yes, it is.
>> Um what if any long-term support arrangements is the Australian government considering including in conjunction with PNG for the five complex former Manis refugees and people seeking asylum remaining in in Port
Um, Senator, I've given evidence before. Just to recap, the arrangements ended at the end of 2021 in PNG and since that time, it's been a matter for the the government of PNG to support that cohort. That being said, as we've canvased at previous estimates, um, we do provide funding support to PNG's resettlement um, and humanitarian program to assist them uh, with that and other support. that funding arrangement is extent
>> and again um I'm going to ask you to provide details of the funding arrangement. If there's a document, provide that document to the committee.
>> I'll take that on notice, Senator, and to consider a continued PII claim.
>> Um some of those cases I've I've been to PNG and I've I've met um at least one of those those men. They are some of the most tragic cases you can imagine. They've been broken by the system. They weren't broken before Australia sent them to Manis or Port Mosby, but they have been broken by the system. Are you saying it's the position of the Australian government that having sent those men there, having seen them broken by the system that it's solely the responsibility of the PNG government?
>> Senator, I think we've provided this evidence in um a number of hearings now. uh the responsibility for um that cohort rests with the PNG government.
>> What is there an update on the legal proceedings in relation um uh which Australia was being joined has been joined to the compensation proceedings?
>> Um I don't have any update on that matter. Senator,
>> what what's the most recent status that you're aware of for those proceedings?
Um, I'll have to take that on notice, Senator. I'm not sure where they're at in the process.
>> They're still extent, though. They're still
>> I believe so, but I will confirm that for you.
>> Um, there was a we were waiting for a ruling in relation to the joining of Australia. Um, has there been a ruling?
>> Um, again, Senator, I'll have to take that on notice. Not that I'm aware of yet, but I will check with
>> Please provide an update on um the the current status of the case, including that application.
>> Yes, Senator, take that on.
Vanguard Training and Employment Services contract with the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority and and their contract has been extended until the end of June of next year to provide allegedly employment and training assistance to refugees despite reportedly not having assisted a single individual to find secure employment. Given that contract is funded by money provided to the PNG government by the Australian government, have you undertaken any due diligence in relation to um the value for money that Australian that Australian taxpayers are getting from the services provided by
Senator, that that contract is a matter for the government of PNG. The the money that we provide them to support their resettlement arrangements, it it is for them to decide how to expend that. Well,
that that's not an answer to Australian taxpayers who are saying, "We don't know how much money, how many hundreds of millions of dollars being sent to PNG." PNG then chooses to spend it on Vanguard training allegedly to provide employment and training assistance and that gets absolutely zero people into employment. That is a a shameful misallocation of Australian taxpayers money and they should have an answer to it. But are you saying you don't follow the money at all? You just hand over heaven knows how much money to PNG and then just wash your hands of it. Is is that the situation? Is that the situation? Secretary
>> Senator, Mr. Thomas has given you a factually correct answer. We provided the money to PNG. It's their responsibility to disperse that in accordance with
>> Do you receive any reports back from the PNG government about the unknown rivers of um funding that you provide to them for this? Do you receive any report back, any accountability, any asurances from P from PNG?
>> Senator, I'll have to take that on notice. Again, that that's we're getting into the detail of the funding arrangement, which again, I'll take on notice to consider whether it is under a PII claim.
>> I'm asking the most simple question. Your department, admittedly, at the direction of the minister's government, is shoveling an un an undisclosed amount of money to PNG. You won't tell us how much. And now now we don't even know whether or not there's any following of the money, any accountability. >> I just want to be clear. Now, let me finish. The Australian The Australian public expects that your department, if it's handing money to another country, will have accountability measures in place and we'll see some kind of return for Australian public money. And and I'm asking you now clearly, Secretary, are there such measures in relation to the money handed to PNG for these purposes?
>> And and Senator, Mr. Thomas has taken that question on notice, and we'll get back to you.