Australian court to rule on Malaysia asylum deal

Australia's High Court is to consider the legality of a controversial migrant swap deal with Malaysia aimed at reducing the flow of asylum seekers.

Australia is to send 800 asylum seekers to Malaysia, in exchange for 4,000 refugees from Malaysia over four years.
Critics say refugees are often mistreated in Malaysia, which has not signed key human rights treaties.
On Sunday a judge ordered a halt to the first transfer of asylum seekers, due on Monday, pending a new hearing.
A human rights lawyer representing 42 asylum seekers is expected to argue that sending the group to Malaysia would be illegal.
The lawyer, David Manne, told Australian radio ahead of the hearing that Malaysia had a "troubling record when it comes to treatment of refugees".
Both Canberra and Kuala Lumpur have insisted their agreement, signed in Kuala Lumpur last month, will provide the necessary safeguards.

Source: Australian Department of Immigration

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has said the agreement will "smash the business model of people smugglers".

But the Australian Human Rights Commission, a watchdog body, has expressed concern - particularly over the welfare of young asylum seekers.
"It is very difficult to see how he can be satisfied that it is in the best interest of an unaccompanied child to send that child to Malaysia, a country that is not a signatory to the refugees convention," its head, Catherine Branson, said last month.
Australia currently has more than 6,000 asylum seekers in detention originating from countries including Iran, Iraq, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.
The UN has previously criticised Australia for holding all asylum seekers in detention centres while their applications are assessed.
The migrants are held for months at the Christmas Island centre, about 1,500 miles (2,400km) from the Australian mainland, and in other facilities.

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