Hazara Nation

Australia has a moral obligation to the hundreds of Iraqis who have worked for the defence force in the war-torn nation, Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon says.

Iraqi translators, drivers and other staff will be allowed to resettle in Australia with their immediate families in a deal that will remove them from the danger of revenge attacks by anti-coalition militias.

"Interpreters and translators have played a very significant role in assisting with strategy and protection, and we feel we have a moral obligation to resettle them in Australia," Mr Fitzgibbon told ABC Radio.
Long-time refugee advocate Marion Le said she "felt so proud" after hearing about the plan.

"I think it's great," she told AAP.

Ms Le said she hoped the decision was part of a changing immigration policy.

"I hope that what we are going to see is a more humanitarian focus by the government.

"It is dignified, responsible and responsive."

Mr Fitzgibbon said calls for the resettlement of the Iraqis had initially come from diggers.

"We heard that message very clearly, and expect up to 600 Iraqis will be involved in the process."

He said the government would rely on those who were in Iraq to nominate who should come to Australia.

"They are well categorised and the government has a database of them and what they have done, and we will ensure that security checks and health checks are done on each of the individuals and their families."

The government does not want to repeat the mistakes of the Vietnam War when Australia left behind almost all locally-employed staff during an abrupt withdrawal from Saigon, Mr Fitzgibbon said.

Already there had been some well-publicised cases of Iraqis facing retribution for their work with British troops.

Mr Fitzgibbon gave no indication the move foreshadowed an open-door policy for Iraqi refugees.

"There are 13,000 other places available in the broader humanitarian program so any other people who are able to demonstrate that they face persecution on any grounds are able to make application under the broader program."

Human rights lawyer Greg Barns called for the plan to be widened.

"There's a huge Iraqi refugee problem around the world who've been displaced by the war in Iraq and a lot of those people I think would be dismayed that their applications to come to Australia are taking much longer than those who stayed and have helped the Australian army," he told ABC Radio.