THIRTEEN Burmese refugees have today arrived in Australia from Kuala Lumpur - the first since the Gillard government's refugee swap was signed with Malaysia.
Eight of the Chin minority refugees have gone to Melbourne and five to Adelaide, as the government prepares to defend the swap agreement in the High Court.
Their arrival coincides with an in-principle deal with Papua New Guinea on the reopening of the Manus Island detention centre.
Immigration authorities are yet to determine what role the former Howard government detention centre in would play in the wider refugee processing system.
The centre is part of an old PNG naval base and is in a poor state of repair.
But it's believed it could be made ready within several months to house a small number of asylum-seekers.
PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill's spokesman said yesterday that “an understanding has been reached that the Manus facility will be made available to Australia”.
It's understood a further seven refugees will arrive from Malaysia next week, with six to go to Melbourne and one to Adelaide.
The new arrivals will be resettled near established Burmese refugee communities.
They will be counted under the government's pre-existing refugee quota, not the 1000-a-year additional intake agreed under the Malaysian Solution.
They were already being processed before the agreement was signed.
The government is yet to hear from the High Court over its bid to fast-track a High Court challenge by refugee advocates to the Malaysia deal.
Source : www.theaustralian.com.au
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