Liza Kappelle August 4, 2011
AAP
The first 55 asylum seekers to be sent to Malaysia for processing will feature on YouTube as a deterrent, but their transfer will be filmed with dignity, Immigration Minister Chris Bowen says.
Authorities broke the news to the 36 adults and 19 minors on Christmas Island on Thursday that they won't have their claims for refugee status processed in Australia.
Riot police and extra security fencing awaited the asylum seekers at the Phosphate Hill detention centre where they were told of their imminent trip to Malaysia to join 90,000 others seeking refugee resettlement.
But Mr Bowen would not say how they took the news.
"I wouldn't provide feedback on that," the minister told reporters in Adelaide on Thursday.
But the government will show their fate on You Tube to deter people from believing people smugglers' lies that some people, especially unaccompanied children, were exempt.
Mr Bowen said the "dignity and privacy" of the asylum seekers would be protected in the YouTube footage.
Among the 19 who are or claim to be minors, three were accompanied, 14 were unaccompanied and two were travelling with older siblings.
"There is no blanket exemptions and the message is very clear," the minister said.
"It is very important and only fair .. that we make it clear that this is real, this is serious and occurring and the government's policies are being implemented.
"There is no starker or more effective way to do that than to film the transfer and operation with people's privacy and dignity being respected as part of that process.
"It is very important that we send the message very clearly that there is no benefit in getting on a boat and taking the dangerous journey to Australia."
Mr Bowen said pre-transfer vetting - initial health, security, vulnerability assessments and checking against Malaysian watch lists - had begun.
It is supposed to be completed in 72 hours, but it will take time to meet the target.
Under the Gillard government's people swap deal, Australia will send 800 asylum seekers to Malaysia in exchange for 4000 processed refugees.
© 2011 AAP
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