Australia Home Affairs Minister looking at "several" applications.

Australian Home Affairs minister, Peter Dutton, said that he is now considering "several" applications from South African farmers for "refugee" or "humanitarian" status in Australia.

The consideration from Dutton follows an issuing of a diplomatic démarche by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu to the Australian High Commissioner in March. The démarche held demands from Lindiwe, she wanted a retraction of the comments made by Dutton on the South African land redistribution process.

The issue seemed to be resolved quickly as Lindiwe announced that Australia had apologised and issued a retraction of the statement. Dutton, however, has told Australian media that this is not the case.

Dutton spoke to Sky News and said that government has not gone back on his comments last month, and that white South African farmers needed protection. He said that he had seen a letter from the Commissioner sent to Sisulu, but added that it did not contain suggestions of repudiation or retraction.

“I’m not sure what domestic issues are at play in terms of the politics in South Africa that would bring this comment out but it’s not based on any factual statement of anyone within the Australian government,” Dutton told Sky News.

He said that the Australian government’s position remained as it was, and that the refugee and humanitarian programme was still available to eligible people.

“In fact we’re having a look at several now,” he said.

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Posted 6 April 2018 | Frederik Herholdt

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