What's next for all the refugees on Manus Island? | Foreign Correspondent 

Some of these comments are very harsh. Amir was a 14 year old boy when he left Iran. He was struggling to survive, find the basics of life, alone with no family,. He was beaten by people in authortative positions which is abuse. At 14 the majority of us are entering highschool with only the simple worries of a teenager. I am Canadian, and I applaud the efforts and kindness of his sponsorship group. He is getting an education, and trying to make his own happiness and I wish him success. As for the men resettled in the United States, just imagine how scared they are? They have lousy jobs washing dishes and cleaning, are sharing a one bedroom apartment. The one man is ill with no medicare, and another man is filled with anxiety and fear of being alone as his family has decided not to come to the United States. Their situation looks depressing to me. The last man, Imran, is adjusting well and has a positive attitude and I hope he continues to thrive.

Wait..... He was on a student visa in Malaysia. When that visa expired he was going to be sent home (that's how visas work) he decided to get on a boat bound for Australia? So instead of illegally over staying his visa he thought it was a good idea to illegally enter Australia. And somehow Australia is at fault. Instead of criticising the Malay government, we criticise the Australian government.

You know, if freedom is so bad then go back. Back to where you cant walk out of your cage, where people will bring you blankets and coats, out of the kindness of their hearts. I am grateful for what I have in my life and also how I was raised. Raised to appreciate what I have and what is offered to me. Freedom is a right, but everything else is something we have to work for. I'm fine with that.

"I don't care job, I care about my life". That is not the response of a refugee running away from torture and deprivation. This is a guy complaining that the USA is not generous enough for him. Well, the USA is not generous enough for its own citizens, and that is the problem we need to work on. This guy probably could have a cushier life with his family in his country, and should be invited to take that option. We must concentrate in fixing our problems, and yes, that would include granting asylum to genuine refugees longing to embrace America's system with all its problems. But we don't need any more people with a sense of entitlement.

I always have this one question in my mind. Imagine if us Aussies would one day have to leave our Country because it's unsafe for some weird reason and decided to seek refuge to Iran or any middle eastern countries. I always wonder if they would help us like we do to them??

What the.... Did they arrive in Canada to a $100k/yr job? Maybe there are sugar daddies hiding around the corner? I don't know! I'm sure that many Canadians can relate to this though. How can they afford such nice apartments? We have so many seniors who have lived here, and have worked their whole lives, we have peoples with disabilities that don't even receive enough support to be able to pay the rent to theses places I see... Nice story, and persecuted people should be able to get asylum, but take care of us citizens first. The one's who's taxes paid for all we have.... My grandmother receives $1200.oo , approx, and Gramps had worked his whole life, and she could never be able to pay the rent to the apartments I see theses guys living in with the support she receives... Canada, as good and as nice as you make the world think you are, you suck!! We have practically no rights! Many here live like the refugees in America, the basics.. Fascism live here!!

Thank you. Don’t ever come to Australia. If you wanna make a life, come here in the right way. I’m an immigrant and it’s unfair for anyone to jump the line because they are supposedly a “refugee”. To be honest, the Australian government spends hundreds of thousands of dollars per year for each person held in a detention centre which is too much. If I was the immigration minister, I will give them two options: we’ll give you $1000, go where ever you want except from Australia or get persecuted in detention centres.

I have all the empathy in the world for these guys. But Amir, the Iranian guy is not the definition of a refugee. He fled Malaysia because his student visa was expiring. that does not mean your life was in imminent danger. As he is not even a Christian anymore, was that grounds to seek asylum, I don't know. But as a refugee, you are supposed to go to a neighbouring country if you are in imminent danger of persecution or death. You aren't supposed to shop around for the best country, as some deemed here Australia. The Australian government should be ashamed for how they handled this but you don't get to pick and choose where you go as a refguee. It's heartbreaking that some of their families were eventually settled in Austrarlia and they are now separated.

Australia must take all these refugees, train then and make productive citizens. Aus is big country and sparsely populated. It is heartless that aus govt turns a blind eye on refugees. Australia must be open and welcome refugees with open arms and settle them in-land. This aus grows economically and culturally.

If the detention centre was the worst experience for them in their lives, then it sounds like they haven't fled war torn homes, discriminatory violence under dictatorships as minorities, etc. Which is probably why they took the illegal route to try and access residency in Australia - Australia does intake refugees - there is process which refugees must undertake to legally enter Australia and given the years of war, terrorism and instability in places such as the Middle East and Africa, there are a large number of misplaced refugees awaiting relocation to safer countries globally - whereby in the interim, they are patiently living in massive refugee camp slums, patiently awaiting their turn for access to a better life, another opportunity for their family via the legal refugee intake process. To expect Australia to allow illegal refugees whom sound like their lives were a walk in a park compared to those fleeing war and terrorism (given their account of the detention centre being the worst experience of their lives), to jump the queue and be counted as part of our annual refugee intake ahead of those awaiting legal placement because they chose the illegal migration route is an absolute disservice to those living in refugee slum conditions after fleeing war and terrorism. What about these people's human rights? Isn't it an injustice to intake illegal refugees before the legal refugees. I know which ones I as a citizen would prefer - the patient, law abiding refugees.

They should go home and apply for immigration through the correct channels. The rest of the world has to obey the immigration laws of the country they wish to move to so why should these queue jumpers expect special privileges. Australia doesn’t have the infrastructure to take on so many people all at once. Also, if we tried to struggle through it we would just be encouraging more people to come through the wrong channels.

"Refugees"??? They caught commercial airline flights to Indonesia then paid smugglers thousands of dollars for the final leg of the trip just before "losing" their passports. The very same passport they needed to board the flight to Indonesia in the first place.

this is why I love my American culture, we are FREE,. IN ALL ASPECTS....

Have you ever wondered why all the world's Muslim refugees flee to Christian countries? Why should Australia think that they should even have to consider asking for forgiveness? Why didn't Indonesia take them, the world's most populous Muslim country?

16:40 I love that idea. Perhaps with some federal govmt help, I do like that citizens are sponsoring and (just as important) forming a relationship and a community for restless refugees! This helps the person to feel welcomed, to have a support system as they learn about their new country and day to day life, their dignity is seen by knowing those who sponsored him or her. That program would help in so many ways in helping the new citizen to acclimate and integrate into the new foreign culture, surroundings, life (as the west is very different in so many ways than many of the countries these people flee from!

Lives of poor people in the USA are bleak and often lonely, even for USA citizens. A lot of people hear that Americans are "rich", and since in their countries the "rich" have servants providing work, comfort and sex on demand, that's what they expect. Most people pretending to be "refugees" are not fleeing torture and death, they are just trying to get better off. It is irresponsible for "sponsors" to bring people to the USA without ascertaining that those fellows are at least willing to accept the flawed American social system and willing to work and contribute. And definitely should have a ticket for a return flight to rejoin their families and resume the sweet life they were born into.

Only IMRAN, the Rohingya refugee was really oppressed. He is grateful for what has been given to him. The others had unrealistic expectations. Be thankful, for God will bless you more.

Well done Amire will do well in Canada.

The guys in US, don’t bother going to Australia. You are in the better place.

These people who are commenting negatively have no heart and are uneducated about persecution.

The resettled ones in Chicago are ungrateful

Amir good too see you got off manus and into canada brother.you were a good person im glad i got to know you and many of the others there.takecare man

In the 2017 FP white paper, Australia talked about the rules based system. But Australia's treatment of asylum seekers and refugees is contradictory. Canada & US are following the rules by settling refugees. Australia should be demonized and not PNG. As a lesser power, we are just helping our powerful neighbour Australia.

When will our ABC be representing the vast majority of Australians (including immigrants from all backgrounds) who understand the simple and obvious fact that that which makes Australia one of the most liveable places on earth mostly relates to it's not being over-populated like everywhere else on earth. Population management should be front and centre of the debate NOW (in all countries) before it's too late and we are all crammed in, one on top of the other, like everywhere else on the planet. Why is the climate change "debate" NEVER followed up with the corollary question of population? The recent "surprise" in the population stats prove that Australia is being crammed with as many people as possible as quickly as possible while the focus is intentionally kept firmly on the divisive issue of the treatment of migrants coming by boat presumably so as to cause all reasonable debate to be drowned out by accusations of racism, inhumanity and the like. Perhaps if we had more restrictions on migrants, we could take in a lot more genuine refugees? (And perhaps if the ABC could be a little bit more forthcoming with an honest account of how a bunch of religious fanatics in black pyjamas rose out of the rubble of the "War on Terror" in Iraq, and for nearly two decades took on the most powerful military alliance in history there wouldn't be so many of them). No, instead we get stories about poor Ali finding it all a bit tough since he came to the realisation that he was a gay Muslim and decided along with millions of his mates to apply for asylum in Australia where the Australian government was prepared to squander billions in defending his rights including his right not to endanger his life by sailing the seas in a leaky boat. Wouldn't the money be better off spent building hospitals and helping people at home(Including gay Muslims)?

@18:16 Amir is getting on with life that detention on Manus interrupted. You mean the punishment for trying to illegally entering another country? It's odd to you Mr narrator that someone's life might be interrupted when they break they law? It wasn't interrupted. He did this too himself.

So sad, so much wasted human potential. Wishing a brighter future from an embarrassed Australian.

This is sad to watch Australians be pushed into accepting these people that have sworn hatred to the western world.. now they want handouts.. the Australian in Canadian government are taking their citizens rights at an alarming rate. I believe Canada just took away all handguns.

ABC TV on 18 Dec 2018 between 7:00 am & 9:00 am - Tanya Plibersek said : We want to bring 800,000 rohingyans from Myanmar to Australia - we will hire Qantas jets to bring them to Australia. Wow! Vote Aust Labour Party - they will OPEN THE FLOODGATES... then another million Bangladeshis will say: If the rohingya can be taken to Australia, WE WANT TO BE FLOWN IN AS WELL... Yep. Look forward to voting for labour in 2019...

20:28 "You can be in the worst place on this planet and make it a heaven for yourself....." says the guy who fled Iran.

I see some very ugly rude hateful comments are you all from Australia???? hahahaha.... when you show your real thoughts it helps us all stay away from your narrow minds

Personally I am proud of Australia Strict Immigration policy

WE CAN'T SAVE THE WORLD. WE HAVE TO SAVE STRANGLING AUSTRALIANS. IT'S GONNA BE RIGHT.

How rich & spoiled do you got to be to think that any of this is rough? It's a life of deep privilege & ingratitude

If you import the 3rd world, you become the 3rd world.

Manus’ life is already been passed. Should not stay in past and should not blame anymore to anyone . Better make a Better life and successful life .

so they are not happy in Usa because they have to work/.....???

Ungrateful

3:09 "the island is their prison" get off the island then

Glad for you god bless u

There is centrelink in Canada?

GOD BLESS AMERICA! THIS KIND OF THING SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!

Build a wall

Please come in Indonesia check the refugees condition

All the world's future problems are solved with mandatory birth control, where pregnancies are planned according to means or supported by community resources. Until we prevent too many births, we will not prevent miserable lives. How much sweeter to apply for pregnancy permits than asylum later on.

This is one area I’m ashamed being Australian.....I’m proud Aussie , my mum from Milne Bay and dad from Manas Island..... I’m ashamed government treat people like live stock !!!

PEOLE ARE SUFFERING. I KNOW. LET THEM GO TO AUSTRALIAN LAND. BUT I SUPPORT MORE OUR SUFFERING FARMERS TODAY. GIVE THEM A GO. SUPPORT THEM

I want to write to Behrouz Boochani....do you think his name, Manus Island , PNG would be sufficient to get to him ???

Send amir to real canadian city. They are not doing him any favors by sending him to a ouasis.

For all of the refugee naysayers here please read 'No Friend but the Mountains' by Behrouz Boochani. It will help upright your empathy.

Hmm

Luxury

Napalm

Where is the island? In Ontario lake?

booohoo

Imran can stay with me because he is hot lol