The removal of the first group, which is en route to Christmas Island, could take several weeks as final preparations are made in Malaysia to receive them.
The Immigration Department is hoping to use the first transfer as a major deterrent to other asylum-seekers from attempting the voyage to Australia.
"We will be documenting this so pictures get out far and wide," spokesman Sandi Logan said.
The latest boat, carrying 54 mainly male Afghan, Iraqi and Iranian refugees and two crew, was intercepted by the Navy yesterday north-west of Scott Reef.
It will take several days to for the boat to reach Christmas Island, where the asylum-seekers will face medical and identity checks before being removed.
The IOM said it would soon be ready to provide medical screening and welfare services for the new arrivals.
"We are deadline driven," spokesman Christopher Lom said today.
It's understood the first transfer may be done over several flights to minimise the risk of problems.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said AFP officers would be aboard to ensure the transfer went smoothly.
"It means taking appropriate steps to get people to board the plane and disembark the plane at the other end," she said.
Counsellors would also be on hand to talk asylum-seekers into obeying instructions alongside security and police, Ms Gillard said.
Malaysia will accept up to 800 asylum-seekers arriving by boat in return for Australia taking 4000 processed refugees over four years.
Mr Logan said immigration authorities were already promoting the asylum swap deal to refugee communities in Australia.
"We are putting a concerted effort into face-to-face meetings with key representatives of the targeted diaspora communities in Australia whose relatives and friends could well be considering using a people smuggler," he said.
The Immigration Department is hoping to use the first transfer as a major deterrent to other asylum-seekers from attempting the voyage to Australia.
"We will be documenting this so pictures get out far and wide," spokesman Sandi Logan said.
The latest boat, carrying 54 mainly male Afghan, Iraqi and Iranian refugees and two crew, was intercepted by the Navy yesterday north-west of Scott Reef.
It will take several days to for the boat to reach Christmas Island, where the asylum-seekers will face medical and identity checks before being removed.
The IOM said it would soon be ready to provide medical screening and welfare services for the new arrivals.
"We are deadline driven," spokesman Christopher Lom said today.
It's understood the first transfer may be done over several flights to minimise the risk of problems.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said AFP officers would be aboard to ensure the transfer went smoothly.
"It means taking appropriate steps to get people to board the plane and disembark the plane at the other end," she said.
Counsellors would also be on hand to talk asylum-seekers into obeying instructions alongside security and police, Ms Gillard said.
Malaysia will accept up to 800 asylum-seekers arriving by boat in return for Australia taking 4000 processed refugees over four years.
Mr Logan said immigration authorities were already promoting the asylum swap deal to refugee communities in Australia.
"We are putting a concerted effort into face-to-face meetings with key representatives of the targeted diaspora communities in Australia whose relatives and friends could well be considering using a people smuggler," he said.
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