The Wire

Australia’s refugee swap deal with Malaysia, signed yesterday, has received a cool reception amongst non-government organizations in the country who work with refugees. They’ve welcomed Australia’s commitment to resettle 4000 refugees from Malaysia. But they say that the terms of this deal could undermine the legal structures that will provide the basis for a genuine regional solution for resettling refugees. This report begins with the voice of Ranuka Balasubramaniam, a director of Lawyers for Liberty in Malaysia, describing her reaction to the refugee swap deal.