Ambassador Alison Burrows Ambassador Chum Suonry | ||
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Australia–Cambodia relations are bilateral relations between Australia and Cambodia. Australia entered into diplomatic relations with Cambodia over 60 years ago.
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.
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. 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.
The deal was signed in Phnom Penh by Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison and Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Kheng. Australia also lent Cambodia AU$35 million in aid but there are concerns that the money will end up in pockets of corrupt officials.