Update!
The offer of permanent residence, announced by the Federal Government last night, will be extended to all so-called locally engaged employees and
their families.
Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said he expected up to 600 visas would be issued
Lawyer Greg Barns said today there were many other Iraqis in difficulty around the world who deserved to be considered.
"There's a huge Iraqi refugee problem around the world who've been displaced by the war in Iraq and a lot of those people I think would be
dismayed that their applications to come to Australia are taking much longer than those who stayed and have helped the Australian army," he said on
ABC radio.
