'You don’t negotiate your borders': Scott Morrison stands firm on Nauru

The Prime Minister stands firm on his government’s refugee policy in an exclusive interview with SBS News.

Australia’s offshore detention policy is shaping up as a key election issue, but Prime Minister Scott Morrison has delivered a rebuke to crossbenchers calling for the removal of children from Nauru, declaring: “you don't negotiate your borders”.

Kerryn Phelps, the independent candidate and likely winner of the Wentworth by-election, has continued her calls for the Coalition to remove the remaining children and their families off Nauru.

Scott Morrison has doubled down on border security. Source: SBS

But the prime minister downplayed the situation on the island, saying Australia was actively working to cut the numbers of children detained.

“We've been getting the children off Nauru for years and, more importantly, we haven't been putting children on Nauru,” he said.

"We've been getting the children off Nauru for years and, more importantly, we haven't been putting children on Nauru": Scott Morrison. Source: AAP

“We're now down to a figure of just over 50 [children] and we're continuing to work… to reducing those numbers even further.”

As medical professionals continued to call for their urgent removal, Mr Morrison said there was more medical staff on Nauru than children, and reports of the dire situation “aren't terribly well-informed”.

The PM also hardened his language towards Labor - which earlier this week flagged its support for refugee resettlement in New Zealand.

“You don't negotiate your borders,” he said.

Mr Morrison said there was more medical staff on Nauru than children. Source: AAP

In for the long haul

Two months since becoming prime minister, Mr Morrison said he has no regrets about the Liberal bloodbath that led to his ascension.

“Leaders always step up, regardless of the circumstances,” he told SBS News in an exclusive interview.

Former Treasurer & Present PM Scott Morrison and Former PM Malcolm Turnbull, AAP Source: AAP

As the Coalition moves closer to a federal election due by May, the prime minister said he didn’t plan on becoming one of Australia’s shortest serving leaders by losing the election.

“You always just stay focused on what’s ahead and the key priorities,” he said.

“I'm not planning on being here for just six months.”

Australia’s future ‘intertwined’ with China

When pressed on issues like China’s conduct in the disputed South China Sea and influence in the Pacific, Mr Morrison said he wanted to be a “measured partner”.

“We're about reducing tensions, not escalating them and maintaining the dialogue,” he said of Australia’s biggest trading partner.

“We will work constructively with China as we always have. Our futures are very much intertwined in the region.”

In a clear signal of his intent for the Pacific region, Mr Morrison said he will use ‘summit season’ meetings like APEC and ASEAN to strengthen Australia’s alliances in the region.

“We're not just the partner of choice, we're family,” he said.

Australian and China flags in Canberra Source: AAP

SBS-ABC merger not a ‘burning issue’

While Mr Morrison said he was “open” to the potential merger of Australia’s two public broadcasters, the ABC and SBS, he said it wasn’t a priority.

“I don't have a habit of ruling things out,” he said.

“But, no one is putting that in front of me at the moment.”

The government commissioned a review of the efficiency of the two broadcasters last month, but has been explicitly instructed not to consider merging them.

Calls to merge the two have been growing since several scandals engulfed the ABC in the last few months over its editorial policies and leadership.

SBS is a national institution, Mr Morrison said.

“SBS is proudly Australian, that's what I like about it,” he said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has spoken exclusively to SBS News on Australia's refugee policy, China, Julian Assange - and that leadership spill. Source: SBS News