THE International Organisation for Migration, one of the four parties central to the Gillard government's proposed refugee swap with Malaysia, has confirmed that a draft agreement between Canberra and Kuala Lumpur has been struck.
As pressure on the Gillard government to conclude the drawn-out negotiations intensifies, The Australian has been told a final version of the document is expected to be circulated among the parties this week.
Sources close to the negotiations said there had been considerable progress on some of the key sticking points, such as work rights for asylum-seekers sent to Malaysia, and the issuing of local identity documents to protect them from arbitrary arrest. "I think there has been some movement from the Malaysian side," the source said.
News of the apparent breakthrough came just days after The Australian reported that Julia Gillard had personally intervened in the negotiations, phoning Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to hasten the deal.
An IOM spokesman yesterday confirmed a final draft had been produced.
Referring to the IOM's recent discussions with Immigration Minister Chris Bowen, a spokesman for the organisation said a conclusion to the two-month affair appeared close.
"(We were told) that the text has been agreed," the spokesman said, "but we haven't received it."
Once the text is finalised, it will need to be approved by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, who has demanded stringent safeguards be put in place to protect asylum-seekers.
Australia and Malaysia have made it clear the deal must have the support of the UNHCR, raising the possibility of further negotiations if the agency is unhappy.
Along with the UNHCR, the IOM will be a key player in making the controversial deal work at a practical level. An international organisation with more than 130 partner countries, including Australia, the IOM will be expected to provide a range of support services for asylum-seekers transferred under the deal, particularly accommodation. It is the invisible hand in managing refugee communities across the world.
The IOM was heavily involved in the Howard government's Pacific Solution, although it is understood there is a degree of regret within the organisation at having associated itself with the widely criticised policy.
IOM director-general Bill Swing is in Australia and is understood to have met Mr Bowen.
Speaking at Sydney's international policy think tank, the Lowy Institute, yesterday, Mr Swing said the IOM was "positively disposed" to helping Australia and Malaysia.
Under the proposed terms of the deal, Australia would swap 800 asylum-seekers for 4000 proven refugees in Malaysia over four years.
Mr Swing said the IOM would wait until it saw the terms of the memorandum of understanding
"We would hope to do this in partnership with UNHCR," he said. "But I have a very positive frame of mind as regards this and look forward to seeing how the whole thing is presented."
The Gillard government has been heavily criticised over its handling of the Malaysia deal.
The announcement that an in-principle deal had been struck was made almost two months ago.
However, the proclamation came before the details had been finalised, leading to claims that Canberra had complicated the negotiations and blown Australia's bargaining leverage.
A spokesman for Mr Bowen declined to comment on the IOM's disclosures, saying only that negotiations were at an advanced stage.
Australia and Malaysia have made it clear the deal must have the support of the UNHCR, raising the possibility of further negotiations if the agency is unhappy.
Along with the UNHCR, the IOM will be a key player in making the controversial deal work at a practical level. An international organisation with more than 130 partner countries, including Australia, the IOM will be expected to provide a range of support services for asylum-seekers transferred under the deal, particularly accommodation. It is the invisible hand in managing refugee communities across the world.
The IOM was heavily involved in the Howard government's Pacific Solution, although it is understood there is a degree of regret within the organisation at having associated itself with the widely criticised policy.
IOM director-general Bill Swing is in Australia and is understood to have met Mr Bowen.
Speaking at Sydney's international policy think tank, the Lowy Institute, yesterday, Mr Swing said the IOM was "positively disposed" to helping Australia and Malaysia.
Under the proposed terms of the deal, Australia would swap 800 asylum-seekers for 4000 proven refugees in Malaysia over four years.
Mr Swing said the IOM would wait until it saw the terms of the memorandum of understanding
"We would hope to do this in partnership with UNHCR," he said. "But I have a very positive frame of mind as regards this and look forward to seeing how the whole thing is presented."
The Gillard government has been heavily criticised over its handling of the Malaysia deal.
The announcement that an in-principle deal had been struck was made almost two months ago.
However, the proclamation came before the details had been finalised, leading to claims that Canberra had complicated the negotiations and blown Australia's bargaining leverage.
A spokesman for Mr Bowen declined to comment on the IOM's disclosures, saying only that negotiations were at an advanced stage.
Source : http://www.theaustralian.com.au
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