govt agrees to 12,000 extra refugees

I realise many/most won't be housed at Manus island but there's pressure to put them somewhere which means current refugees under TSE care are likely to spend much longer on Manus island as Syrians get priority.

• AAP
• SEPTEMBER 9, 2015 3:15PM
• Government's decision to permanently resettle 12,000 refugees from the conflict in Syria and Iraq has been welcomed by their backers in Australia.

"IT is an important first step and shows to the world that Australia is willing to support those who are in great need," said Refugee Council of Australia president Phil Glendenning.
Even the Greens gave Prime Minister Tony Abbott the thumbs-up.
"He has made a difference to the lives of 12,000 people," Greens leader Richard Di Natale told reporters in Canberra.
Amnesty International described the pledge as a positive demonstration of leadership.
"But there's no reason this number can't be increased to 20,000 people," its Australian refugee coordinator Graham Thom said.
Oxfam said it was a bold move in the right direction while praising the government's "u-turn" on taking more refugees.
Federal Labor welcomed the intake announcement, but leader Bill Shorten said the $44 million earmarked to support 240,000 people in refugee camps fell short of what was required.
He also said Australia should offer additional refugee places on a needs basis, without qualification or discrimination.
NSW Premier Mike Baird welcomed the federal government's "bold and generous decision" to resettle the refugees.
"People have united behind the simple idea that our boundless plains are here to be shared, especially with those that are in desperate need," he said.
Mr Baird told NSW Parliament his government is in "active talks" with the commonwealth about the details of the additional intake.
"I applaud this generous decision and reiterate that NSW is eager to do more than our fair share to assist the commonwealth," Mr Baird said during question time on Wednesday.
He had been in talks with other premiers about what the states could do to supplement the commonwealth's announcement of $44 million in financial aid for refugee agencies, he said.