Hazara Nation

DEFENCE Minister Joel Fitzgibbon says Australia has a moral obligation to resettle up to 600 Iraqis who have been assisting defence forces in the troubled nation.

Mr Fitzgibbon said Prime Minister Kevin Rudd especially didn't want a repeat of the aftermath of the Vietnam War.

Immigration officials are preparing to travel to Iraq and neighbouring nations to process applications.

Mr Fitzgibbon said Australian troops had raised concerns about the plight of locally-hired staff with him and Mr Rudd during a trip to Iraq late last year.

He has told ABC Radio "we heard that message very clearly, and expect up to 600 Iraqis will be involved in the process''.

"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.''He said the Government would rely on those who are on the ground 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 a precipitate 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 said.

Mr Fitzgibbon has given no indication the move foreshadowed an open-door policy for refugees from Iraq.

"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.''