Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull would not say whether he had discussed the deal with President-elect Donald Trump during their telephone conversation on Thursday.
The Obama administration had agreed to resettle refugees among almost 1,300 asylum seekers held at Australia's expense on the island nations of Nauru and Papua New Guinea.
Turnbull told reporters, adding that the deal was reached "some time ago.
Trump has called for a moratorium or tight restrictions on Muslim immigration.