Human rights groups say the government's US refugee resettlement deal announcement is full of holes.
Representatives from groups including the Human Rights Law Centre and Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce told reporters in Melbourne the US resettlement of asylum seekers from Nauru and Manus Island was a government concession that the offshore centres were "dead ends".
"This announcement is full of holes. No time frame, no numbers, no plan for what looks like the hundreds of people who will be left behind," HRLC director of legal advocacy Daniel Webb said.
What they said:
Tony Stuart, UNICEF Australia CEO:
"The chance to resettle in the US will, at long last, give refugee children on Nauru the chance to start a new life in safety and for their families to recover and rebuild. Children in particular have been impacted by offshore processing experiencing prolonged distress, violence, family separation and interrupted education. This arrangement creates a permanent pathway for children to grow up healthy, educated and to reach their full potential."
Ian Rintoul, Refugee Action Coalition:
"It is an admission that Nauru and Manus Island are offshore dead-ends, but the deal still eaves the future of asylum seekers and refugees up in the air. The deal means there is no certainty for the asylum seekers and refugees marooned on Nauru and Manus Island. And there is a serious question over the future of the thousands of single men, given the announced priority that will be given to women, children and families."
Misha Coleman, Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce:
"Finally the Government has accepted our argument and that argument is that Nauru and Manus Island are unsustainable and they are not fit and proper places for anybody."
Shen Narayanasamy, GetUp:
"Manus and Nauru present no solution at all and provide no safety for any of the people Australia has held there for more than three years."
Daniel Webb, Human Rights Law Centre:
"The plan is not yet a plan. We have no information about time frames, we have had no information about numbers, we have no information about whether anyone will be left behind."
Kon Karapanagiotidis, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre:
"If they can be safely re-settled in the United States then they are safe, as long as it is permanent and durable and they are safely re-settled there, then that is an outcome that we can live with."
David Manne, Refugee Advocate:
"It's long overdue. Any deal that provides refugees with a place where they can be safe and re-build their lives is to be welcomed."
Asher Hirsch, Refugee Council of Australia:
"It's a clear sign that off-shore processing has failed and further, it's a vindication of the social workers, the teachers, the doctors and the security guards who have spoken out about the horrible treatment these people have suffered in these detention centres."
An Afghan asylum seeker allegedly attacked on Manus Island in August Source: AAP
Many questions remain
Malcolm Turnbull's "one-off" deal to resettle refugees detained on Manus and Nauru in the US has drawn widespread support, but his vagueness on one key issue suggests it's still at risk of being Trumped.
The prime minister - announcing the agreement struck with outgoing US President Barack Obama - was hesitant when asked how it will be impacted when Donald Trump is inaugurated in January, given he wants to ban Muslim immigration.
"We deal with one administration at a time," he told reporters in Canberra on Sunday.
The one-off resettlement agreement will only be available to those currently in the regional processing centres.
"It will not be available to any persons who seek to reach Australia in the future," he said.
US Secretary of State John Kerry, while visiting New Zealand, confirmed the US has agreed to "consider referrals".
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, although not briefed on the deal, welcomed the opportunity for people to be resettled.
"Labor would be hypocritical if we didn't welcome this because this is the very thing we wanted with the Malaysia solution some years ago," he told reporters in Melbourne.
The man who led the High Court challenge that killed off Labor's Malaysian solution, refugee advocate and lawyer David Manne, said the US was clearly a suitable option.
"It's long overdue that the government have a plan which gives hope and safety to people who've been through this terrible ordeal on Nauru and Manus Island," he told Sky News.
But Greens senator Nick McKim said the only bit of compassion he saw through the whole announcement was from Mr Turnbull to Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton - the former and present immigration ministers.
Mr Turnbull anticipates people smugglers will seek to use the agreement as a marketing opportunity to tempt vulnerable people on to these perilous sea journeys, and Australia has ramped up naval patrols and surveillance to counter this.
"Any people smuggling boats that attempt to reach Australia will be intercepted and turned back," he said.
But Labor backbencher Anne Aly couldn't see why the government keeps saying it's sending a message to people smugglers.
"Guess what? The people smugglers aren't sitting there drinking tea and watching what we're doing," Dr Aly told Sky News, adding they use propaganda to get people to use their "supposed service".
Mr Dutton said the deal would prioritise women, children and families on Nauru.
The government is also in the final stages of negotiation with Nauru for a 20-year visa for people who are offered a settlement arrangement in the US but refuse to take it - an arrangement that will also extend to new arrivals.
"Let that be a very clear message to all people that 'you will not step foot on Australian soil'," Mr Dutton said.
Mr Turnbull declined to put a timeline on the transition to the US other than saying Homeland Security officials would be coming to Australia in the next few days to start the process of carefully assessing each refugee.
