The offer, of 2,000 Australian dollars (1,200 US) to individuals and up to 10,000 dollars (6,000 US) for families, is the same as the payment offered to some Afghan asylum seekers after the Taliban regime fell.

But as in the case of the Afghans, the cash handout to Iraqis is likely to be offered only to those in detention as failed asylum seekers or to some 4,200 on temporary protecton visas -- not the 18,700 accepted as permanent residents.

The immigration ministry said Sunday that some 200 Afghans who were in detention had accepted the offer so far and returned home, but it remains open until June 30 for some 2,000 others on temporary protection visas.

Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock told a weekend news conference that one of 39 Iraqis in detention centres had already asked the government for financial assistance to return to Iraq.

He said the government was considering such a scheme, adding: "When you have people who are specifically asking for a package it is obviously not inappropriate to be looking at it at this stage.

"What we know is in relation to the Afghans a figure of 2,000 dollars per person and 10,000 dollars per family is seen to be appropriate."

Whether the 39 Iraqi detainees, and those on temporary protection visas, would now be forced home depended on whether they could prove a "well-founded fear of persecution" still existed, he said.

"The changed circumstances may well be very relevant in determining whether a temporary visa would be renewed," he added.

The announcement came as police in South Australia arrested almost 30 protesters during a series of clashes in which missiles were thrown outside a detention centre for illegal immigrants near Port Augusta.

The Easter weekend protest, organised by a left-wing group calling itself "No-one is illegal", which supports an open immigration system, began on Friday.

SPACE.WIRE