Australia Immigration stays firm

AUSTRALIA – The Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton says detainees at its offshore detention facility on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea will not be brought back to Australia.

PNG’s highest court ruled on Tuesday the detention of asylum seekers on Manus Island is illegal.

A five judge bench of the Supreme Court ordered the PNG and Australian governments to immediately take steps to end the detention of 850 asylum seekers in the centre.

But Dutton said it was not Australia’s responsibility.

A long-time human rights activist, Julian Burnside QC, said the decision meant the people detained on Manus must be released: “And if they’re released, the question is whether they’re released into the PNG community or whether they are returned to Australia where they first arrived, where they were sent from and where they have a claim for asylum.

“Personally I would think they should be sent to Australia. I think on any view they’re our responsibility and we ought to look after them.”

The Australian government has issued a strong statement saying detainees on Manus Island will not be brought to Australia despite the court ruling.

In a statement the Australian government says it was not a party to the legal proceedings in Papua New Guinea and the decision does not alter Australia’s border protection policies.

Canberra says those found to be refugees are able to resettle in PNG and those found not to be refugees should return to their country of origin.

This is despite PNG still lacking a clear resettlement programme for the asylum seekers, and warnings from local MPs about potential unrest over refugees being integrated into PNG grassroots communities.

However, Canberra says it will not allow a return to the chaos of the years when regional processing was initiated to deal with the overwhelming illegal arrivals of more than 50,000 people. - RNZI