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| Manus Island detention centre could stay, says Peter Dutton – live | Manus Island detention centre could stay, says Peter Dutton – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 3.07am BST | |
| 03:07 | |
| Melissa Davey has just spoken to prominent Australian barrister, human rights and refugee advocate, Julian Burnside, in Melbourne. | |
| He told her it was “fascinating that PNG is waving the flag at Australia, pointing out that something we can all recognise as immoral falls below their human rights standards”. | |
| Burnside said, “Let’s face it, Australia only chose PNG and Nauru as places to warehouse people because we knew they needed the money we could give them. Let’s not shy away from that. That’s the brutal reality of it, and at last their Supreme Court has said ‘No, this falls below our standards of human decency’.” | |
| However, he said he expected Turnbull and Dutton to maintain their hardline stance that detainees will not be coming to Australia.“They will maintain that hardline stance because Labor is so pathetic on this issue that [opposition immigration minister] Richard Marles is singing from the same song-sheet as Peter Dutton,” he said. | |
| Public sentiment was slowly turning against the government’s immigration and border protection policies, Burnside said, pointing to the mass protests against children in detention and the movement to ‘Let the stay’. But he feared the sentiment was not widespread enough to lead to a change in policy. | |
| Melbourne has always been more ‘bolshie’ than most cities on these issues, but I think what we need to change in all of this is the sentiment of the public at large to make them recognise that since Tampa, politicians have been lying to us by calling asylum seekers illegal, and by saying that we need to be protected from them. Scott Morrison [the former immigration minister] brought this into sharp focus in 2013 when he renamed the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. | |
| Australians think that keeping asylum seekers in offshore detention means that criminals are being kept away from us to protect us. Which would be sensible if it were true, but it is completely false and the government has played on this falsity. Labor may not be calling them illegal, but they are also not contradicting the government. It will be very hard for either of the parties to say; ‘Sorry, we’ve been lying to Australians’, but until we get that change in sentiment Australians will go on thinking we are being protected from criminals and terrorists. | |
| What does get a sharp response from people though is when you see images of children behind the wire. It’s hard to look at a photo of a five-year-old wandering in the dirt in... Nauru and think ‘She’s a criminal that we have to be protected from’. | |
| 2.50am BST | |
| 02:50 | |
| Labor leader Bill Shorten has held a press conference, describing the government’s handling of offshore processing as a “shambles” and a “trainwreck”. | |
| He said he supported regional processing, but that processing must not be allowed to degenerate into “indefinite detention”. | |
| “Labor supports regional processing, we do not want to see people-smugglers back in business ... there is a unity ticket to defeat the people smugglers.” | |
| But he said the Coalition government had no roadmap for working out offshore detention, despite being aware for months the supreme court’s decision was coming and likely to rule the offshore processing was illegal. | |
| “Mr Dutton let the cat out of the bag when he said he expected this and was aware of this for months – they need to do this day job and sort out this mess.” | |
| It was a Labor government, under Kevin Rudd, which re-established offshore processing on Manus Island, signing a memorandum of understanding with PNG. | |
| Updated | |
| at 2.56am BST | |
| 2.31am BST | 2.31am BST |
| 02:31 | 02:31 |
| Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has responded to Dutton’s suggestion Manus Island could become an “open centre” in the same style as Nauru, in order to get around the supreme court findings. | Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has responded to Dutton’s suggestion Manus Island could become an “open centre” in the same style as Nauru, in order to get around the supreme court findings. |
| “It is fanciful for Peter Dutton to suggest that all they need to do is open the gates. It will simply turn what is a hell hole on an island into an island hell. Manus Island is closed. It’s been found to be illegal and it’s time the government admitted it.” | “It is fanciful for Peter Dutton to suggest that all they need to do is open the gates. It will simply turn what is a hell hole on an island into an island hell. Manus Island is closed. It’s been found to be illegal and it’s time the government admitted it.” |
| Hanson-Young also dismissed third-country options. | Hanson-Young also dismissed third-country options. |
| “The rest of the world is managing with the largest numbers of people seeking asylum than we have ever had since World War II,” she said. | “The rest of the world is managing with the largest numbers of people seeking asylum than we have ever had since World War II,” she said. |
| “You’ve got countries like Canada opening up their hearts and their arms to people who need help, and you’ve got Australia saying a small number of people can’t come here. We are a laughing stock on the international stage.” | “You’ve got countries like Canada opening up their hearts and their arms to people who need help, and you’ve got Australia saying a small number of people can’t come here. We are a laughing stock on the international stage.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.33am BST | at 2.33am BST |
| 2.22am BST | 2.22am BST |
| 02:22 | 02:22 |
| Below is Dutton’s interview with Channel Nine’s Today Show on the contradicting statements from him and Turnbull around how long they have been planning for this week’s events. | Below is Dutton’s interview with Channel Nine’s Today Show on the contradicting statements from him and Turnbull around how long they have been planning for this week’s events. |
| Dutton says he knew about Manus Island closure since 2015, in contradiction with PM's comments. #auspol #9Today https://t.co/bZbPyzyKOI | Dutton says he knew about Manus Island closure since 2015, in contradiction with PM's comments. #auspol #9Today https://t.co/bZbPyzyKOI |
| 2.19am BST | 2.19am BST |
| 02:19 | 02:19 |
| Melissa Davey | Melissa Davey |
| Last night Melissa Davey attended a talk by Roderick St George, a Manus Island G4S security manager-turned-whistleblower. Below is her dispatch from Melbourne’s Wheeler Centre. | Last night Melissa Davey attended a talk by Roderick St George, a Manus Island G4S security manager-turned-whistleblower. Below is her dispatch from Melbourne’s Wheeler Centre. |
| A former G4S security senior manager on the island in 2013, Roderick St George resigned from the position after one month and returned to Australia, distressed by what he had seen. | A former G4S security senior manager on the island in 2013, Roderick St George resigned from the position after one month and returned to Australia, distressed by what he had seen. |
| He then exposed the abuse of detainees to the media, saying assault victims were knowingly left in the same compound as their abusers as there are not adequate facilities to separate them. He faced prosecution for exposing the situation. | He then exposed the abuse of detainees to the media, saying assault victims were knowingly left in the same compound as their abusers as there are not adequate facilities to separate them. He faced prosecution for exposing the situation. |
| Speaking on the Papua New Guinea’s supreme court finding that detention of asylum seekers on Manus is illegal, St George told the Wheeler audience: “I think Australia has been lecturing Papua New Guinea for many years about how to enter the civilised world. So this is quite ironic”. | Speaking on the Papua New Guinea’s supreme court finding that detention of asylum seekers on Manus is illegal, St George told the Wheeler audience: “I think Australia has been lecturing Papua New Guinea for many years about how to enter the civilised world. So this is quite ironic”. |
| St George said he suffered significant post-traumatic stress from what he saw on Manus, and from the fear of prosecution he faced for speaking out. He said he suffered regular nightmares. He also spoke of his distress at being unable to help a boy who was raped. | St George said he suffered significant post-traumatic stress from what he saw on Manus, and from the fear of prosecution he faced for speaking out. He said he suffered regular nightmares. He also spoke of his distress at being unable to help a boy who was raped. |
| “There was no facility for him to receive the proper treatment or to be kept safe,” St George said, adding that the boy was placed back with his abuser. | “There was no facility for him to receive the proper treatment or to be kept safe,” St George said, adding that the boy was placed back with his abuser. |
| “I spoke to my operations manager, and he was very nonplussed about it. He didn’t have a lot of sympathy for the situation they [asylum seekers] were in.” | “I spoke to my operations manager, and he was very nonplussed about it. He didn’t have a lot of sympathy for the situation they [asylum seekers] were in.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.24am BST | at 2.24am BST |
| 2.02am BST | 2.02am BST |
| 02:02 | 02:02 |
| Turnbull: a strong Australia is a secure Australia | Turnbull: a strong Australia is a secure Australia |
| The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has been asked, if a contingency plan for the PNG supreme court decision has indeed been in the works for many weeks, why isn’t it ready to go now? | The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has been asked, if a contingency plan for the PNG supreme court decision has indeed been in the works for many weeks, why isn’t it ready to go now? |
| He doesn’t entirely answer, and it is the last question of the press conference, so no further pushing. | He doesn’t entirely answer, and it is the last question of the press conference, so no further pushing. |
| The prime minister wants to make a couple of points: | The prime minister wants to make a couple of points: |
| The detainees will not come to Australia. “That is absolutely clear and the PNG government knows that, understands that very well.” | The detainees will not come to Australia. “That is absolutely clear and the PNG government knows that, understands that very well.” |
| The centre and its residents “are the consequence of Labor’s failure to maintain the strong border protection policies that they had inherited but then discarded.” | The centre and its residents “are the consequence of Labor’s failure to maintain the strong border protection policies that they had inherited but then discarded.” |
| He is looking forward to discussions with PNG, but the Australian government will seek to ensure detainees can “either settle in PNG, as they have the opportunity to do, or in third countries”. | He is looking forward to discussions with PNG, but the Australian government will seek to ensure detainees can “either settle in PNG, as they have the opportunity to do, or in third countries”. |
| “If we want to have secure borders, if we want to ensure that women and children are not drowning at sea, put into leaky, dangerous boats by criminals and gangsters, by people smugglers, then we must have secure borders, and we do and we will, and they will remain so as long as I am the prime minister of this country.” | “If we want to have secure borders, if we want to ensure that women and children are not drowning at sea, put into leaky, dangerous boats by criminals and gangsters, by people smugglers, then we must have secure borders, and we do and we will, and they will remain so as long as I am the prime minister of this country.” |
| End of press conference. | End of press conference. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.07am BST | at 2.07am BST |
| 1.47am BST | 1.47am BST |
| 01:47 | 01:47 |
| Looking at Nauru for a moment. | Looking at Nauru for a moment. |
| Dutton yesterday confirmed there were at least four people who had self-harmed in the past day or two, as well as Omid. He also confirmed three people who had been receiving medical treatment in Brisbane had been medically cleared and returned to Nauru. | Dutton yesterday confirmed there were at least four people who had self-harmed in the past day or two, as well as Omid. He also confirmed three people who had been receiving medical treatment in Brisbane had been medically cleared and returned to Nauru. |
| This morning, Guardian Australia has been told one of the women sent back also self-harmed. She is currently in the IHMS medical facility. A pregnant woman also hurt herself yesterday, according to people on the island. | This morning, Guardian Australia has been told one of the women sent back also self-harmed. She is currently in the IHMS medical facility. A pregnant woman also hurt herself yesterday, according to people on the island. |
| A number have reported worsening mental health among refugees and asylum seekers, particularly during a visit by UNHCR representatives. | A number have reported worsening mental health among refugees and asylum seekers, particularly during a visit by UNHCR representatives. |
| “People are doing something every day on Nauru,” one man told Guardian Australia, saying he was aware of at least eight incidents on Wednesday alone. | “People are doing something every day on Nauru,” one man told Guardian Australia, saying he was aware of at least eight incidents on Wednesday alone. |
| “There was some other incidents happen in the other settlement site. A woman, she was pregnant.” | “There was some other incidents happen in the other settlement site. A woman, she was pregnant.” |
| Of Omid’s act of self-immolation, he said, “He did it in front of everyone.” | Of Omid’s act of self-immolation, he said, “He did it in front of everyone.” |
| “This is how we live here. He just wanted to show the world and UNHCR.” | “This is how we live here. He just wanted to show the world and UNHCR.” |
| “There is no future here. There is nothing here,” the man, who has refugee status, said of Nauru. | “There is no future here. There is nothing here,” the man, who has refugee status, said of Nauru. |
| Asked if there was any way he could be happy living on Nauru, if the living conditions, security, and support improved: | Asked if there was any way he could be happy living on Nauru, if the living conditions, security, and support improved: |
| “After three years of punishment, after three years of depression and bad mental and physical health, would you like to stay even in a five-star prison? | “After three years of punishment, after three years of depression and bad mental and physical health, would you like to stay even in a five-star prison? |
| “There are refugees and they are killing themselves here. This is not a place for refugees to come and live here. Even the government of Australia knows about it, and that is why they give Cambodia as an option.” | “There are refugees and they are killing themselves here. This is not a place for refugees to come and live here. Even the government of Australia knows about it, and that is why they give Cambodia as an option.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.57am BST | at 1.57am BST |
| 1.19am BST | 1.19am BST |
| 01:19 | 01:19 |
| Bring detainees back to Australia, says Triggs | Bring detainees back to Australia, says Triggs |
| Over on ABC24 the Australian Human Rights Commissioner, Gillian Triggs has raised concerns with the prospect of Manus detainees being housed on Christmas Island, where the detention centre population is largely non-asylum-related. | Over on ABC24 the Australian Human Rights Commissioner, Gillian Triggs has raised concerns with the prospect of Manus detainees being housed on Christmas Island, where the detention centre population is largely non-asylum-related. |
| “People who are quite lawfully claiming rights as asylum seekers and refugees being in the same camps as those who have committed criminal offences and are subject to deportation, typically to New Zealand but of course to other countries as well, on visa cancellations,” she said. | “People who are quite lawfully claiming rights as asylum seekers and refugees being in the same camps as those who have committed criminal offences and are subject to deportation, typically to New Zealand but of course to other countries as well, on visa cancellations,” she said. |
| “I don’t think it’s a solution to keep warehousing these men. They’ve been held for years and they are in absolute despair about their futures. We need the political leadership to say ultimately we must accept our responsibility to bring these men back to Australia.” | “I don’t think it’s a solution to keep warehousing these men. They’ve been held for years and they are in absolute despair about their futures. We need the political leadership to say ultimately we must accept our responsibility to bring these men back to Australia.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.36am BST | at 1.36am BST |
| 1.08am BST | 1.08am BST |
| 01:08 | 01:08 |
| Manus detention centre could stay, says Dutton | Manus detention centre could stay, says Dutton |
| Last bit from the Hadley interview: Dutton says he spoke with prime minister Malcolm Turnbull this morning and the PM is “100%” behind him. | Last bit from the Hadley interview: Dutton says he spoke with prime minister Malcolm Turnbull this morning and the PM is “100%” behind him. |
| Hadley raises the issue of foreign aid Australia gives to PNG. | Hadley raises the issue of foreign aid Australia gives to PNG. |
| “Can’t we use it as a little carrot or stick, and say ‘now listen fellas I know the Supreme Court made a decision but there are more things at play here than Manus Island’,” suggests Hadley. | “Can’t we use it as a little carrot or stick, and say ‘now listen fellas I know the Supreme Court made a decision but there are more things at play here than Manus Island’,” suggests Hadley. |
| Can’t we tell PNG that the aid will continue but it’s “quid pro quo and we can’t stick money into your joint if you’re not going to support us” he says. | Can’t we tell PNG that the aid will continue but it’s “quid pro quo and we can’t stick money into your joint if you’re not going to support us” he says. |
| Dutton says Australia will make its position very clear and will work through the situation with them. | Dutton says Australia will make its position very clear and will work through the situation with them. |
| “I think there is an opportunity for the detention centre to remain in place in a different form.” | “I think there is an opportunity for the detention centre to remain in place in a different form.” |
| 1.01am BST | 1.01am BST |
| 01:01 | 01:01 |
| A few more key comments from Dutton’s interview with Hadley just now. | A few more key comments from Dutton’s interview with Hadley just now. |
| Despite comments from PNG representatives - which I’ll bring more on shortly - Dutton is maintaining that Australia is not bound at all by the PNG supreme court ruling, and that the 850 men are not Australia’s responsibility. | Despite comments from PNG representatives - which I’ll bring more on shortly - Dutton is maintaining that Australia is not bound at all by the PNG supreme court ruling, and that the 850 men are not Australia’s responsibility. |
| The supreme court ruling doesn’t require the centre to be closed immediately. An “open centre-style arrangement... may deal with some of the concerns the judges had” and allow a centre to continue operating. | The supreme court ruling doesn’t require the centre to be closed immediately. An “open centre-style arrangement... may deal with some of the concerns the judges had” and allow a centre to continue operating. |
| Australia will work with PNG on the options “available to them”, says Dutton, but the starting and finishing point is No Settlement In Australia. | Australia will work with PNG on the options “available to them”, says Dutton, but the starting and finishing point is No Settlement In Australia. |
| There is a “difficulty” with Iranian detainees as their country own’t take forced returns. “The PNG government will have to sort that out, and it’s an issue for them.” | There is a “difficulty” with Iranian detainees as their country own’t take forced returns. “The PNG government will have to sort that out, and it’s an issue for them.” |
| 12.45am BST | 12.45am BST |
| 00:45 | 00:45 |
| Dutton is asked about Omid, whom Guardian Australia understands is on his way to Brisbane for treatment. | Dutton is asked about Omid, whom Guardian Australia understands is on his way to Brisbane for treatment. |
| “It’s a terrible situation, nobody wants to see anyone self harm,” Dutton says. | “It’s a terrible situation, nobody wants to see anyone self harm,” Dutton says. |
| Omid is in a “very, very dire situation” and the government has sympathy for him and his family, “but the government is not going to change its policy”. | Omid is in a “very, very dire situation” and the government has sympathy for him and his family, “but the government is not going to change its policy”. |
| “People aren’t going to stay permanently in our country, even if they come here temporarily for medical treatment.” | “People aren’t going to stay permanently in our country, even if they come here temporarily for medical treatment.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.54am BST | at 12.54am BST |
| 12.44am BST | 12.44am BST |
| 00:44 | 00:44 |
| This will be dealt with “in the best interests of our country,” says Dutton. | This will be dealt with “in the best interests of our country,” says Dutton. |
| The minister is predicting it will take a couple of months to go through the supreme court decision and work out the options, which takes us beyond the next election. | The minister is predicting it will take a couple of months to go through the supreme court decision and work out the options, which takes us beyond the next election. |
| He says Labor, and particularly Marles’s response, has been “ridiculous”. Hadley calls it acting like a “headless chook”. | He says Labor, and particularly Marles’s response, has been “ridiculous”. Hadley calls it acting like a “headless chook”. |
| “They created this problem, Ray. They created drownings at sea,” says Dutton. | “They created this problem, Ray. They created drownings at sea,” says Dutton. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.49am BST | at 12.49am BST |
| 12.38am BST | 12.38am BST |
| 00:38 | 00:38 |
| “We’ve paid the PNG government a lot of money,” says Hadley. | “We’ve paid the PNG government a lot of money,” says Hadley. |
| “A lot of money,” agrees Dutton. | “A lot of money,” agrees Dutton. |
| 12.38am BST | 12.38am BST |
| 00:38 | 00:38 |
| Peter Dutton is talking to Ray Hadley on 2GB. | Peter Dutton is talking to Ray Hadley on 2GB. |
| He’s saying there’s plenty of room on Nauru “because we stopped the boats”. But he adds “we don’t need to be talking about Christmas Island or Nauru or anywhere else” because PNG has to go through the supreme court judgement and look at its options. | He’s saying there’s plenty of room on Nauru “because we stopped the boats”. But he adds “we don’t need to be talking about Christmas Island or Nauru or anywhere else” because PNG has to go through the supreme court judgement and look at its options. |
| “The 850 people under the MOU [memorandum of understanding] are the responsibility of the PNG government,” he tells Hadley. | “The 850 people under the MOU [memorandum of understanding] are the responsibility of the PNG government,” he tells Hadley. |
| Which is a little contrary to what PNG says. | Which is a little contrary to what PNG says. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.48am BST | at 12.48am BST |
| 12.36am BST | 12.36am BST |
| 00:36 | 00:36 |
| Refugee flown to Brisbane after self-immolation | Refugee flown to Brisbane after self-immolation |
| 23-year-old Omid, who suffered severe burns after setting himself alight yesterday, has reportedly left Nauru in an air ambulance, bound for a Brisbane hospital. | 23-year-old Omid, who suffered severe burns after setting himself alight yesterday, has reportedly left Nauru in an air ambulance, bound for a Brisbane hospital. |
| He remains in a critical condition, and heavily sedated. Before yesterday’s protest, he had reportedly told other asylum seekers he intended to burn himself in protest, but that the threat wasn’t taken seriously. | He remains in a critical condition, and heavily sedated. Before yesterday’s protest, he had reportedly told other asylum seekers he intended to burn himself in protest, but that the threat wasn’t taken seriously. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.47am BST | at 12.47am BST |
| 12.27am BST | 12.27am BST |
| 00:27 | 00:27 |
| Some more detail on Dutton’s latest comments. | Some more detail on Dutton’s latest comments. |
| The minister told Sky News this morning Nauru did have the capacity to take additional detainees, but he was still talking with the PNG government about options. | The minister told Sky News this morning Nauru did have the capacity to take additional detainees, but he was still talking with the PNG government about options. |
| Labor spokesman Richard Marles has also been pushing for the government to work out an arrangement to keep the PNG arrangement going in some form. | Labor spokesman Richard Marles has also been pushing for the government to work out an arrangement to keep the PNG arrangement going in some form. |
| The supreme court decision was comprehensive, and dismissed several amendments made by the government previously which had sought to cement the legality of the detention centre. Any new change now would have to be much stronger to get around the court’s findings. | The supreme court decision was comprehensive, and dismissed several amendments made by the government previously which had sought to cement the legality of the detention centre. Any new change now would have to be much stronger to get around the court’s findings. |
| Regarding the Christmas Island option, Dutton has been specific in his language, saying that none of the men from Manus would ever be “permanently settled” in Australia. | Regarding the Christmas Island option, Dutton has been specific in his language, saying that none of the men from Manus would ever be “permanently settled” in Australia. |
| That language would seem to leave open the possibility for all, or some, of the men from Manus being transferred to the Christmas Island detention centre. | That language would seem to leave open the possibility for all, or some, of the men from Manus being transferred to the Christmas Island detention centre. |
| Read more here. | Read more here. |
| Related: Manus refugees likely to be relocated to Christmas Island and Nauru | Related: Manus refugees likely to be relocated to Christmas Island and Nauru |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.00am BST | at 1.00am BST |
| 12.10am BST | 12.10am BST |
| 00:10 | 00:10 |
| Good morning, | Good morning, |
| Two days ago Australia’s immigration policy looked set in stone ahead of the July election. | Two days ago Australia’s immigration policy looked set in stone ahead of the July election. |
| Then the supreme court of Papua New Guinea ruled the detention of asylum seekers and refugees was illegal and contrary to the country’s constitution and migration law. | Then the supreme court of Papua New Guinea ruled the detention of asylum seekers and refugees was illegal and contrary to the country’s constitution and migration law. |
| In response, the PNG prime minister, Peter O’Neill announced the Manus Island centre will close, and said it was Australia’s responsibility to find alternative arrangements for those of the 850 male detainees who did not settle in PNG as refugees. | In response, the PNG prime minister, Peter O’Neill announced the Manus Island centre will close, and said it was Australia’s responsibility to find alternative arrangements for those of the 850 male detainees who did not settle in PNG as refugees. |
| Australian immigration minister, Peter Dutton, had previously sought to distance his government from such responsibility. | Australian immigration minister, Peter Dutton, had previously sought to distance his government from such responsibility. |
| Nauru has reached an “emergency situation”, advocates have said, after a young man set himself alight in front of UNHCR representatives yesterday, and a number of other asylum seekers and refugees attempted self-harm. | Nauru has reached an “emergency situation”, advocates have said, after a young man set himself alight in front of UNHCR representatives yesterday, and a number of other asylum seekers and refugees attempted self-harm. |
| Tensions and desperation among those on Nauru has been exacerbated by the news out of PNG, people on the island have said. | Tensions and desperation among those on Nauru has been exacerbated by the news out of PNG, people on the island have said. |
| Which brings us to this morning. | Which brings us to this morning. |
| Dutton has flagged the possibility of sending the Manus men to Nauru or Christmas Island. | Dutton has flagged the possibility of sending the Manus men to Nauru or Christmas Island. |
| “There is capacity [on Nauru] but we’re talking with the PNG government about what options are available in PNG and we’ll continue those discussions with them,” he said this morning. | “There is capacity [on Nauru] but we’re talking with the PNG government about what options are available in PNG and we’ll continue those discussions with them,” he said this morning. |
| PNG high commissioner to Australia, Charles Lepani, says discussions will start next week on working out a plan to close the centre, but he maintained that responsibility for the detainees not settling in PNG was Australia’s, which must take them back. | PNG high commissioner to Australia, Charles Lepani, says discussions will start next week on working out a plan to close the centre, but he maintained that responsibility for the detainees not settling in PNG was Australia’s, which must take them back. |
| We’ll bring you developments throughout the day. Stay with us. | We’ll bring you developments throughout the day. Stay with us. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.23am BST | at 12.23am BST |