First detainees facing PNG flight as Thailand looks on

The first boatload of asylum-seekers intercepted after the government announced it would begin deporting boatpeople is likely to be sent to PNG

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The first boatload of asylum-seekers intercepted after the government announced it would begin deporting boatpeople to foreign countries is likely to be sent to Papua New Guinea.

As Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya expressed an interest over the weekend in emulating Canberra's deal to swap asylum-seekers with Malaysia, there were signs the government's recent announcements were beginning to disrupt the smuggling syndicates.

The Australian understands government officials have been encouraged by the initial impact of the government's plan to transfer the next 800 asylum-seekers to Malaysia, in exchange for 4000 declared refugees from Malaysia.

In the words of one government official, the news had generated "a lot of nervousness" among people-smugglers and would-be asylum-seekers, with Australian officials abroad reporting some boatpeople had begun demanding their money back.

However, while the government has been pleased with the way the announcements have been received, it is bracing for more boat arrivals as smugglers test the new arrangements.

On Saturday, authorities intercepted the first boat load of asylum-seekers to be affected by the changes, which will see them deported to either Malaysia or PNG, with the government increasingly confident Port Moresby will agree to hold a centre catering to between 400 and 600 people.

Julia Gillard yesterday said the 32 people aboard the boat would be removed from Australia.

"The message here to people-smugglers and to asylum-seekers in the pipeline is don't come to Australia expecting to be processed, because you won't be," the Prime Minister said. "You will be held, pending removal."

Ms Gillard did not say where the 32 would be taken.

However, The Australian understands they are likely to be taken to PNG, with asylum-seekers transferred to Kuala Lumpur only after the agreement between Australian and Malaysia has been signed.

At a joint press conference in Bangkok on Saturday with Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, Mr Kasit said other countries in the region would study the refugee swap between Australia and Malaysia. "I think the Australian-Malaysian likely agreement will provide some sort of certainty and also model for others, I think, to study later," he said.

However, refugee lawyer David Manne, whose landmark case against the federal government effectively ended the system of offshore processing begun by the Howard government, said the government was on "very shaky ground" in trying to deport asylum-seekers.

"The core obligation under the refugee convention is to ensure that anyone claiming protection is not expelled to their home country or somewhere else where they could face danger," Mr Manne said.

"And the only way to do that is to examine their claims."

The Department of Immigration yesterday clarified none of the asylum-seekers involved in the torching of Sydney's Villawood detention centre last month had received refugee visas of any kind. Of the 23 men involved in the incident, seven have been charged and remain in Silverwater jail.

The other 16 are being held at detention centres in Sydney and Melbourne.