"Without mentioning names, when you have a country that’s willing to be engaged in it, an experienced country that is willing to sponsor it and a third country that is a signatory country like Nauru that is also party to all of this . . . That would seem to be a positive thing and something that should be encouraged," Mr Morrison said.

"I would have thought the point for the UNHCR and the region is to expand the club of countries that are available," he said.

The United States, Canada, Great Britain and Australia are "effectively the club of serious resettling countries and I think often these countries aren't recognised for the role that they are playing", Mr Morrison said.

"If we’re going to limit the protection opportunities only to First World economies then we are effectively committing large numbers of people to life in a fairly uncertain place," he said.

"With less than 1 per cent [of asylum seekers] having a place for resettlement, ultimately it's about providing temporary safe haven."