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| What next for Manus Island asylum seekers? | What next for Manus Island asylum seekers? |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Papua New Guinea has announced it will close a detention centre on Manus Island used by Australia to house asylum seekers. | Papua New Guinea has announced it will close a detention centre on Manus Island used by Australia to house asylum seekers. |
| This comes after Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court ruled that holding people in such a camp was unconstitutional. | This comes after Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court ruled that holding people in such a camp was unconstitutional. |
| So, what could happen next to about 850 men currently being held on the Pacific island? | So, what could happen next to about 850 men currently being held on the Pacific island? |
| Immediate steps | Immediate steps |
| The fate of the asylum seekers appears to be in limbo, as the governments of both Papua New Guinea and Australia are now urgently seeking legal advice on what to do next. | The fate of the asylum seekers appears to be in limbo, as the governments of both Papua New Guinea and Australia are now urgently seeking legal advice on what to do next. |
| Canberra is likely to wait for an official response from Port Moresby, before taking any steps. | Canberra is likely to wait for an official response from Port Moresby, before taking any steps. |
| "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," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Wednesday. | "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," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Wednesday. |
| "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. |
| PNG opposition politician Belden Namah, who brought the court case, has said he will be taking further legal action in the coming days. | PNG opposition politician Belden Namah, who brought the court case, has said he will be taking further legal action in the coming days. |
| He says the asylum seekers must be released and compensated for damage and false imprisonment. | He says the asylum seekers must be released and compensated for damage and false imprisonment. |
| PNG position | PNG position |
| Following the court ruling, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said: "Papua New Guinea will immediately ask the Australian government to make alternative arrangements for the asylum-seekers currently held at the Regional Processing Centre." | Following the court ruling, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said: "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 those "deemed legitimate refugees" would be invited to live in the country "if they want to be part of our society and make a contribution to our community". | He said those "deemed legitimate refugees" would be invited to live in the country "if they want to be part of our society and make a contribution to our community". |
| He added: "It is clear that several of these refugees do not want to settle in Papua New Guinea". | He added: "It is clear that several of these refugees do not want to settle in Papua New Guinea". |
| Mr O'Neill did not outline any timetable for the closure of the facility. | Mr O'Neill did not outline any timetable for the closure of the facility. |
| However, not everyone in the country is happy with the court's decision. | However, not everyone in the country is happy with the court's decision. |
| Australia spends millions of dollars in funding the detention centre, and many locals on Manus Island are employed at the facility. | Australia spends millions of dollars in funding the detention centre, and many locals on Manus Island are employed at the facility. |
| "A lot of people will be losing jobs, a lot of people will be out of work," Manus Island lawmaker Ronnie Knight was quoted as saying by ABC. | "A lot of people will be losing jobs, a lot of people will be out of work," Manus Island lawmaker Ronnie Knight was quoted as saying by ABC. |
| Australia position | Australia position |
| Canberra insists its asylum policy will not change, and the men held on Manus Island will not be allowed into Australia. | Canberra insists its asylum policy will not change, and the men held on Manus Island will not be allowed into Australia. |
| "This (court) decision doesn't bind the Australian government. It's a decision in the Supreme Court of PNG, so it is an issue for the PNG government to contemplate," Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said. | "This (court) decision doesn't bind the Australian government. It's a decision in the Supreme Court of PNG, so it is an issue for the PNG government to contemplate," Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said. |
| "But we will work with a close partner in PNG, because we are as determined as ever to make sure these (asylum seeker) boats don't restart." | "But we will work with a close partner in PNG, because we are as determined as ever to make sure these (asylum seeker) boats don't restart." |
| Australia says its tough policies have led to a sharp drop in the number of migrant boats, thus preventing many possible deaths at sea. | Australia says its tough policies have led to a sharp drop in the number of migrant boats, thus preventing many possible deaths at sea. |
| The Labor opposition agrees with the government. However, Labor's immigration spokesman Richard Marles called on Mr Dutton to urgently go to Papua New Guinea for negotiations. | |
| "Were it me at this moment, I'd be in PNG right now," Mr Marles told Australia's public broadcaster ABC. | "Were it me at this moment, I'd be in PNG right now," Mr Marles told Australia's public broadcaster ABC. |
| "I'd be trying to work out how offshore processing can be maintained... Any other option is incredibly difficult." | "I'd be trying to work out how offshore processing can be maintained... Any other option is incredibly difficult." |
| Australia is likely to hold early elections on 2 July, and the formal announcement is expected in early May. The government would then be in a "caretaker mode", unable to take any decisions on the Manus Island problem until after the polls. | Australia is likely to hold early elections on 2 July, and the formal announcement is expected in early May. The government would then be in a "caretaker mode", unable to take any decisions on the Manus Island problem until after the polls. |
| Where refugees might go? | Where refugees might go? |
| Mr Dutton said the options for the asylum seekers would be to go back to their home countries or settle in Papua New Guinea. | Mr Dutton said the options for the asylum seekers would be to go back to their home countries or settle in Papua New Guinea. |
| "These people will not be coming to Australia," he stressed, despite growing pressure from human rights groups. | "These people will not be coming to Australia," he stressed, despite growing pressure from human rights groups. |
| Meanwhile, another option for Canberra could be to shift them temporarily to its offshore detention centres on Christmas Island (Australian territory) or the tiny Pacific country of Nauru, the BBC Jon Donnison in Sydney says. | Meanwhile, another option for Canberra could be to shift them temporarily to its offshore detention centres on Christmas Island (Australian territory) or the tiny Pacific country of Nauru, the BBC Jon Donnison in Sydney says. |
| There have also been suggestions that a third country may take in the refugees. | There have also been suggestions that a third country may take in the refugees. |
| Australia has been negotiating with a number of countries - including New Zealand, the Philippines and Cambodia - on the issue. | Australia has been negotiating with a number of countries - including New Zealand, the Philippines and Cambodia - on the issue. |
| But Ian Rintoul, the spokesman for the Sydney-based Refugee Action Coalition group, says a positive outcome from such talks is unlikely. | But Ian Rintoul, the spokesman for the Sydney-based Refugee Action Coalition group, says a positive outcome from such talks is unlikely. |
| "Australia has already trawled the Pacific," he told the BBC, adding that Canberra "has run out of the countries". | "Australia has already trawled the Pacific," he told the BBC, adding that Canberra "has run out of the countries". |
| "Had they found such a nation... they would have stated it," Mr Rintoul said. | "Had they found such a nation... they would have stated it," Mr Rintoul said. |
| He added that in the end Australia would be forced to take in the refugees. | He added that in the end Australia would be forced to take in the refugees. |
| Could they stay? | Could they stay? |
| Such a possibility theoretically exists, reports suggest. | Such a possibility theoretically exists, reports suggest. |
| Papua New Guinea's government could declare the detention centre an "open" facility, granting asylum seekers freedom of movement. | Papua New Guinea's government could declare the detention centre an "open" facility, granting asylum seekers freedom of movement. |