Refugee deal triggers awkward moment for Scott Morrison in Cambodia
Lindsay Murdoch
/ The Age | 26 September 2014
An awkward toast: Immigration Minister Scott Morrison and Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Kheng.
Photo: Omar Havana
Phnom Penh: The behaviour of Australia's Immigration
Minister Scott Morrison in the Cambodian capital late on Friday was a
diplomatic embarrassment.
Mr Morrison walked 20 minutes late into a ceremony to sign an
agreement for Australia to send its unwanted refugees to one of the
world's poorest and most corrupt nations.
The proceedings started when aides crashed a tray of champagne glasses and went downhill from there.
After inking the agreement that has provoked a storm of
criticism, Mr Morrison stood and clinked champagne glasses with
Cambodia's Interior Minister Sar Kheng, as it became clear to
journalists corralled behind rope barriers that neither intended to
explain anything about the agreement or to answer questions.
"What about the $40 million pay-off (to Cambodia)," a journalist shouted.
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