Australian refugee swap could resume within a week

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 Australia could start sending asylum seekers to Malaysia as early as next week if the High Court there rules in favour of the refugee swap tomorrow, The Australian Online reported.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) told the national daily its staff were on standby to accept arrivals as early as Thursday if the Australian High Court allowed the Malaysian Solution to go through.

Australian Immigration Minister Chris Bowens office also confirmed that two transit centres in Port Dickson were ready to accept transfers, with no further updates to be completed.

The ministers spokesman, however, would not speculate on when transfers would commence, before the High Court ruling tomorrow.

IOM regional representative Chris Lom told The Australian Online that if the High Court ruled in Canberras favour, it would be feasible that transfers could begin as early as next week.

He said IOM would provide medical staff, social workers and humanitarian staff to deal with asylum applications at the transit centres.

All other staff, including security and caretakers, would be provided under the agreement between the Malaysian and Australian governments.

The end of Ramadan is a really big deal in the Arab world so I would assume that most people would not be back at work until after then, Lom said.

I guess if the High Court challenge goes the Australian Governments way, transfers could start after then.

The Gillard administrations heavily criticised Malaysian Solution was put on hold earlier this month after Melbourne lawyer David Manne won a High Court injunction to prevent deportations.

Manne has also mounted a wider challenge against the refugee swap deal, with a ruling expected tomorrow.

He argued that asylum seekers arriving in Australia had a right to have claims for refugee protection assessed in Australia, and that the High Court could review Bowens declaration that Malaysia was a suitable ! destinat ion for offshore processing.

Asylum seekers will spend up to 45 days in one of two transit centres in Malaysia before being released into the community if the challenge is defeated.

Under the deal between Malaysia and Australia, up to 800 asylum seekers could be sent to Kuala Lumpur in return for Australia accepting an extra 4000 refugees.