Australia Reportedly In Talks With Obama To Take Offshore Refugees

The proposal could close the controversial immigration centres on Nauru and Manus Island.

The Australian government is reportedly close to signing a deal with outgoing US President Barack Obama that would see long-term refugees in Australia's offshore detention network resettled in America.

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The Australian newspaper reports the prime minister is "poised" to strike a deal in the final months of the Obama presidency, aimed at closing the detention centres on Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus Island and sending the1800 refugees to the US.

News of the deal comes amid a parliamentary debate about whether refugees who try to come to Australia by boat should be permanently banned from Australia, which the Turnbull government has said is a necessary precursor to a long-term resettlement deal with a third country.

On Friday morning, senior minister Christopher Pyne would not confirm whether a deal was on the cards, but said there was "plenty of time" to organise a refugee swap before Donald Trump is sworn in.

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"Well if it’s a true story then there are two months, over two and a half months, before the change," Pyne told the Today Show.

"There certainly is time, two and a half months is certainly plenty of time. If that’s the case it’ll be another great achievement from the Turnbull government."

Asked about the proposal on morning radio, Malcolm Turnbull contradicted his colleague, shutting down speculation about a US deal.

“There’s always speculation about these things and we never comment on them," Turnbull told Melbourne's 3AW.

The offshore detention network in the Pacific islands has long been a controversial issue in Australia, with the international community repeatedly condemning the horrific conditions, including reports of child sexual assault, inside the immigration centres on Manus island and Nauru.

BuzzFeed News has contacted the White House for comment.