Asylum seekers to be transferred to south-east Asia

Published on 14/05/2011 10:39

A BOATLOAD of 32 asylum seekers found in Australian waters will be the first to be transferred to other south-east Asian countries, including Malaysia and Papua New Guinea, in a controversial bid to deter future refugees.

Last week the Canberra government struck a deal with Malaysia to swap asylum seekers for refugees and is negotiating with Papua New Guinea to accept hundreds of people who paid smugglers to bring them to Australia.

The navy intercepted the asylum seekers, suspected to be from Afghanistan and Pakistan, off the north coast.