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| Papua New Guinea to shut Australia's Manus Island migrant camp | Papua New Guinea to shut Australia's Manus Island migrant camp |
| (1 day later) | |
| Papua New Guinea is to close a detention centre used by Australia for asylum seekers, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has announced. | Papua New Guinea is to close a detention centre used by Australia for asylum seekers, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has announced. |
| His statement followed a Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday that detaining people in such a camp was unconstitutional. | His statement followed a Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday that detaining people in such a camp was unconstitutional. |
| Australia sends asylum seekers to the Manus Island detention centre under its offshore processing policy. | Australia sends asylum seekers to the Manus Island detention centre under its offshore processing policy. |
| Earlier on Wednesday, Australia's PM said the asylum seekers were the responsibility of Papua New Guinea. | Earlier on Wednesday, Australia's PM said the asylum seekers were the responsibility of Papua New Guinea. |
| "Naturally we are working, we'll work with them, support them," Malcolm Turnbull said, "but it's a matter that we've got to go through the judgment, got to go through the implications, what the options are for the PNG government. | "Naturally we are working, we'll work with them, support them," Malcolm Turnbull said, "but it's a matter that we've got to go through the judgment, got to go through the implications, what the options are for the PNG government. |
| "So, I can't provide a definitive road map from here right today," he added. | "So, I can't provide a definitive road map from here right today," he added. |
| Currently about 850 men are held on the island, about half of whom have been judged genuine refugees. | Currently about 850 men are held on the island, about half of whom have been judged genuine refugees. |
| Manus Island: a controversial 'solution' | Manus Island: a controversial 'solution' |
| What next for Manus Island asylum-seekers? | What next for Manus Island asylum-seekers? |
| Manus Island: Australia's Guantanamo? | Manus Island: Australia's Guantanamo? |
| Australia's controversial asylum policy | Australia's controversial asylum policy |
| 'Out of step' | 'Out of step' |
| Mr O'Neill said that, following the ruling, "Papua New Guinea will immediately ask the Australian government to make alternative arrangements for the asylum-seekers currently held at the Regional Processing Centre". | Mr O'Neill said that, following the ruling, "Papua New Guinea will immediately ask the Australian government to make alternative arrangements for the asylum-seekers currently held at the Regional Processing Centre". |
| He said that those "deemed legitimate refugees" would be invited to live in Papua New Guinea "if they want to be part of our society and make a contribution to our community". | He said that those "deemed legitimate refugees" would be invited to live in Papua New Guinea "if they want to be part of our society and make a contribution to our community". |
| "It is clear," he added, "that several of these refugees do not want to settle in Papua New Guinea". | "It is clear," he added, "that several of these refugees do not want to settle in Papua New Guinea". |
| Mr O'Neill's announcement leaves Australia with a headache - what to do with the asylum seekers, says the BBC's Jon Donnison in Sydney. | Mr O'Neill's announcement leaves Australia with a headache - what to do with the asylum seekers, says the BBC's Jon Donnison in Sydney. |
| One option is for Australia to shift them to its offshore detention centres in Nauru and on Christmas Island, he adds. | One option is for Australia to shift them to its offshore detention centres in Nauru and on Christmas Island, he adds. |
| Following the Supreme Court ruling, Australia's Immigration Minister Peter Dutton made it clear that the asylum-seekers would not be allowed to come to Australia. | Following the Supreme Court ruling, Australia's Immigration Minister Peter Dutton made it clear that the asylum-seekers would not be allowed to come to Australia. |
| The president of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Gillian Triggs said the court decision showed Australia's immigration policies were "increasingly out of step with international norms". | The president of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Gillian Triggs said the court decision showed Australia's immigration policies were "increasingly out of step with international norms". |
| 'Illegal' | 'Illegal' |
| Five judges on Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court's bench ruled that the Manus Island camp breached section 42 of the constitution, which guarantees personal liberty. | Five judges on Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court's bench ruled that the Manus Island camp breached section 42 of the constitution, which guarantees personal liberty. |
| The court said "all steps" should be taken to end the "illegal" detention. | The court said "all steps" should be taken to end the "illegal" detention. |
| Papua New Guinea's constitution guarantees personal liberty for all people, except in defined circumstances relating to crime, illegal immigration and quarantine. | Papua New Guinea's constitution guarantees personal liberty for all people, except in defined circumstances relating to crime, illegal immigration and quarantine. |
| In 2014, Papua New Guinea's government amended section 42 of the constitution to add a paragraph that allowed for "holding a foreign national under arrangements made by Papua New Guinea with another country". | In 2014, Papua New Guinea's government amended section 42 of the constitution to add a paragraph that allowed for "holding a foreign national under arrangements made by Papua New Guinea with another country". |
| But the Supreme Court ruled this amendment was unconstitutional, as it did not meet a requirement to respect "the rights and dignity of mankind". | But the Supreme Court ruled this amendment was unconstitutional, as it did not meet a requirement to respect "the rights and dignity of mankind". |