Australia Asylum Statistics As of 20 April 4,552 IMAs detained on the mainland, 1,748 on Christmas Island Source: Australian Department of Immigration The refugee lawyer David Manne says his Malaysian challenge was based on the grounds it would separate a Kurdish man, who has been granted refugee status in Australia, from his newly-arrived wife and four-year-old son. But Mr Bowen said there were "several provisions" of the Migration Act which allowed for the arrangement with Malaysia to be entered into. "Blanket exemptions would be unworkable and counterproductive and would provide for a loophole for people-smugglers to exploit and encourage people to get on boats and make a very dangerous journey." "In relation to vulnerable cases, we would take into account personal circumstances and that would be a range of personal circumstances which would go into that consideration," Mr Bowen said. The Australian newspaper reported that negotiations with Malaysia are currently stuck on Australia's insistence that asylum-seekers sent to Malaysia be given identity papers to ensure they are not harassed by police. It said that Australia wants Kuala Lumpur give an explicit commitment not to send refugees back to the country they fled. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to