Cambodia refugee resettlement: Asylum seeker deal a step closer as International Organisation for Migration agrees to oversee transfer from Nauru

Updated

Australia's refugee deal with Cambodia looks set to take a vital step forward with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) signalling it is willing to assist in the transfer of refugees from Nauru.

Almost four months since the $40 million deal was signed, the IOM gave in-principle agreement to facilitate the transfer of refugees to Cambodia.

The Cambodian government asked the IOM to oversee the transfer process.

A spokesman said the IOM had written to the Cambodian government agreeing to assist if four conditions were met.

He said the conditions were applied to all IOM deals but would not detail what they were.

The IOM observed meetings between Nauruan, Australian, and Cambodian officials in Nauru last week.

Speaking to ABC's AM this morning, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said discussions with Cambodia and the IOM were ongoing.

Mr Dutton did not provide specific details about the number of refugees expected to take up the option to resettle in Cambodia, but said it would be on a case-by-case basis.

"There is an orderly process that takes place. We identify those who are refugees and those who aren't and we have an opportunity from there to enter into discussions with third countries or countries of origin to see where we can return those people to," he said.

He said "productive" talks with Cambodia were continuing.

"I'll conduct that conversation [about numbers] in private," Mr Dutton said.

"They're very credible to deal with, and we have further discussions to take place which will take place privately, not publicly."

Deal is a long-term arrangement

Last year Australia's then-immigration minister Scott Morrison described the deal with Cambodia as a long-term arrangement which would begin with four or five refugees in the early stages and build over time.

He said Cambodia would decide how many refugees it would accept.

The agreement also stipulated refugees would only be sent to Cambodia on a voluntary basis.

The Australian Government made a $40 million aid down payment and would also pay for associated costs for housing and educating refugees who go there.

Mr Morrison last year said he did not know the total cost of the arrangement.

At the time the arrangement was condemned by the United Nations' refugee agency and human rights advocates.

Protesters also gathered outside the Australian embassy in Phnom Penh after the deal was signed saying the poverty-stricken country was unable to look after its own people and should not be taking in Australia's refugees.

Topics: foreign-affairs, government-and-politics, refugees, immigration, community-and-society, scott-morrison, cambodia, australia

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