Dutton: ‘No detainees will be settled in Australia’

PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Australia and Papua New Guinea have confirmed that the Manus Island detention centre will be closed, but offered no detail on the future of the 854 men held there – except that Australia remains adamant it will accept none of the detainees for resettlement.

Australia’s immigration minister, Peter Dutton, confirmed the future closure, after meeting with PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in Port Moresby on Wednesday.

He said there was no timeline for closing the centre yet, but both countries would work towards it “as quickly as possible”.

O’Neill released a statement following the meeting saying that officials from both countries were making progress on how to close the centre.

“Both Papua New Guinea and Australia are in agreement that the centre is to be closed,” O’Neill said, but offered no time frame on the closure, only stating that the process should not be rushed.

“A series of options are being advanced and implemented. This must take into account the interests of the people of Papua New Guinea and the wellbeing of asylum seekers and refugees.”

Dutton also failed to give any indication as to where those held on Manus would go, but said none of the refugees would ever be settled in Australia.

“It has been the longstanding position of this government to work with PNG to close Manus and support those people as they transition into PNG or return to their country of origin,” Dutton said.

“We’re talking to third countries at the moment, to look at settlement options.”

The ABC understands Australia will give PNG extra resources to cope with the transition, but Dutton would not be drawn on how much.

Labor’s immigration spokesman, Shayne Neumann, said it was extraordinary that Australians were learning about the possible closure of Manus from the PNG prime minister rather than the Australian minister.

“This is yet again an example of the lack of transparency and accountability and openness of this government to offshore detention and processing,” Neumann said.

“The Australian public have a right to know in circumstances where about $1.2 billion of taxpayers money is going to offshore processing, what is actually happening.

Neuwmann called on the minister to inform Australians where the asylum seekers would be sent and what arrangements would be made for health, education and other needs.

“Tell the Australian public what is happening,” Neumann said.

Oxfam Australia’s chief executive, Helen Szoke, said the closure agreement “must be acted on urgently”.

In a statement, Dr Szoke said the remaining men should be processed quickly and offered permanent resettlement in Australia if their refugee applications are successful.

Human Rights Watch director Elaine Pearson also called for the men to be brought to Australia “or a safe third country”.

- PNC sources