Australia is on the verge of signing a new resettlement deal that would allow refugees processed on Nauru to resettle in Cambodia.

Ms Bishop said Cambodia was seeking people who would be able to help rebuild Cambodia.

"They're very keen to have people working," Ms Bishop told ABC radio.

"They're looking for people who are able-bodied who would be able to contribute to Cambodian society."

Cambodia is one of Asia's poorest nations and is still recovering from civil war in the 1970s.

The Australian Greens, Labor and refugee groups are concerned about Cambodia's human rights record and worry the country doesn't have the capacity to resettle refugees.

But Ms Bishop said Cambodia was part of the Bali process and wanted to be part of the solution to end people smuggling.

"If people are seeking to flee persecution, they'll be looking for a safe haven and that's what Cambodia is offering," she said.