Transcript
In a statement, Filippo Grande said he was recently informed by the Australian government it would not honour the commitment, a decision he said was contrary to fundamental principles of family unity, refugee protection and common decency.
His assistant Volker Turk told the ABC that the UN agreed to facilitate the US deal last November following a meeting with the Australian immigration minister Peter Dutton.
Mr Turk says the UN understood it would then be able to request Mr Dutton grant Australian settlement for 36 of about 2000 people detained offshore.
"But he did agree that we would be able to present such cases and in subsequent meetings with the department it was very important for us to ensure that precisely the verification of close family links was ascertained by our officers so that we could present such cases. We went into this agreement on the understanding that indeed Australia would be part of the solution for a handful compelling humanitarian cases with strong family links to Australia."
But a spokesperson for Peter Dutton says the government's position has been clear and consistent: those transferred to regional processing centres on Nauru and Manus Island will never settle in Australia.
Mr Dutton reiterated that point earlier this week on Australia's Sky News.
"No. No and people will not be coming to Australia. I've said that consistently, the Government has said it consistently, the Prime Minister has said it consistently, as did Prime Minister Abbott at the time."
The Kurdish journalist and Manus Island detainee Behrouz Boochani says the commissioner's revelation shows Australia's deal with the US was based on a lie.
"And the government has played with not only the refugees but media and international organisations. This government has politically benefited from doing wrong and breaking international laws."
The Refugee Council of Australia's chief executive Paul Power says his government has dug itself into a hole with offshore detention and has run out of friends to help it out.
"I don't think people in Canberra realise just how badly Australia is being viewed around the world. there are no governments interested, the slightest bit interested, other than New Zealand and the United States in entertaining any idea of resettling refugees who are regarded as Australia's responsibility. UNHCR who is potentially one of its allies in finding places for refugees, now is signalling that it is extremely cheesed off with Australia's behaviour. Some governments might be prepared to consider individual referrals from UNHCR but there's no way they will accept a direct approach from Australia."
Paul Power says a decade ago the Australian government realised it had no choice but to settle hundreds of its offshore detainees.
He says the present government should swallow its pride and do the same.
