Australia reaches halfway mark for Syrian refugee intake

Australia has passed the halfway mark in resettling a special intake of 12,000 Syrian refugees.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull

Australia has passed the halfway mark in resettling a special intake of 12,000 Syrian refugees. (AAP)

More than half of the special intake of 12,000 Syrian refugees has been resettled in Australia.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull gave an update on resettlement statistics on Friday and defended the slow progress, the result of thorough security checks being carried out.

"Australians understand this is not something you want to short cut ," he told reporters in Hobart.

Canada has resettled 33,239 Syrians since last year.

Mr Turnbull praised Tasmania's generosity in resettling 10 families so far.

The 40 people have found a new home in Hobart and 200 refugees in total will move to the city.

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Published 4 November 2016 6:08pm
Updated 4 November 2016 6:38pm
Source: AAP


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