Australia–Cambodia relations

Bilateral relations exist between Australia and Cambodia. Australia entered into diplomatic relations with Cambodia over 60 years ago.

Australia–Cambodia relations

Australia
Cambodia
Envoy
Ambassador Alison BurrowsAmbassador Chum Suonry
Monthly value of Australian imports from Cambodia (A$ millions) since 1988
Monthly value of Australian merchandise exports to Cambodia (A$ millions) since 1988

Australia played a role during the Cambodian peace process in the 1980s as well as the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia in 1993. Both countries are working closely to combat people smuggling, human trafficking, child sex tourism, narcotics trafficking, and terrorism.

Australia is a major contributor to the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia and has to date committed $22.96 million to the ECCC. Australia has also provided funding to support public outreach campaigns and is an active member of the Principal Donors Group in New York and 'Friends of the ECCC' group in Phnom Penh. The first Cambodian and international judges (including Australian Rowan Downing QC) and prosecutors were sworn in on 3 July 2006.[1]

2014 Refugee Resettlement Agreement

On September 26, 2014, Australia and Cambodia signed an agreement which will allow refugees from Australia to resettle in Cambodia, which sparked criticisms from rights group such as Human Rights Watch, Freedom House, and the UNHCR.[2] Cambodians, including Buddhist monks, protested in front of the Australian embassy against the deal citing that Cambodia "can't even look after its own", pointing to poverty and human rights concerns in Cambodia.[3]

The deal consisted of the Australian Government paying Cambodia AU$40 million and in exchange, Cambodia agreed to accept some of Australia's rejected asylum seekers.[4] In a statement to the press, Scott Morrison, the Australian Immigration Minister said 'only genuine refugees' housed in Nauru's processing centre would pertain to the deal.[4] There was no initial cap on the number of refugees that would be sent over.[4] It was signed in Phnom Penh by Scott Morrison and Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Kheng. Australia also lent Cambodia AU$35 million in aid.[5]

References
  1. http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/cambodia/cambodia_brief.html Retrieved 4 March 2014
  2. Campbell, Charlie (25 September 2014). "Australian Plan to Resettle Refugees in Impoverished Cambodia Sparks Concern". Time. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  3. "Cambodians protest Australia using country as refugee 'dumping ground'". The Guardian. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  4. "Australia and Cambodia sign refugee resettlement deal". BBC News. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  5. Carmichael, Robert (26 September 2014). "Australia and Cambodia Sign Controversial Refugee Deal". VOA. Retrieved 27 September 2014.


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