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Australia to hold talks with PNG on Manus refugees | Australia to hold talks with PNG on Manus refugees |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Australia and Papua New Guinea will hold urgent talks next week over the fate of asylum seekers held at a detention centre on Manus Island. | |
The talks come after Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court ruled the facility unconstitutional, overturning a deal reached between the governments. | |
Australia sends asylum seekers there under its offshore processing policy. | Australia sends asylum seekers there under its offshore processing policy. |
Papua New Guinea has now said it will close the facility, but it is not clear when that could happen. | |
Manus Island was first opened in 2001, and along with Australia's other offshore processing centres, has played a central role in Australia's controversial asylum policy. | |
Papua New Guinea's high commissioner to Australia Charles Lepani said the detainees were now Australia's responsibility, but Australia has remained opposed to taking any of them. | |
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said on Thursday there was room for them at another detention centre on Nauru. | Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said on Thursday there was room for them at another detention centre on Nauru. |
"There's 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," Mr Dutton said on Sky News. | "There's 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," Mr Dutton said on Sky News. |
This comes after an Iranian asylum seeker held at the Australian-funded detention centre on Nauru set himself on fire on Wednesday. | This comes after an Iranian asylum seeker held at the Australian-funded detention centre on Nauru set himself on fire on Wednesday. |
His actions were a "political protest" according to the Nauruan government. | His actions were a "political protest" according to the Nauruan government. |
Mr Dutton said the 23-year old man was in a serious condition and was evacuated to Australia for treatment. | Mr Dutton said the 23-year old man was in a serious condition and was evacuated to Australia for treatment. |
Nauru is a small Pacific Island nation about 3,000 km (1,800 miles) north-east of Australia. | Nauru is a small Pacific Island nation about 3,000 km (1,800 miles) north-east of Australia. |
It was previously administered by Australia but gained independence in 1968. | It was previously administered by Australia but gained independence in 1968. |
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 |
Mr Dutton said that the man set himself on fire at a settlement outside the detention centre. | Mr Dutton said that the man set himself on fire at a settlement outside the detention centre. |
"He's in a very serious condition," Mr Dutton said. | "He's in a very serious condition," Mr Dutton said. |
"His outlook is not good at all." | "His outlook is not good at all." |
He also confirmed that other asylum seekers held on the island had harmed themselves. | He also confirmed that other asylum seekers held on the island had harmed themselves. |
"What we've been very clear about is that if people come to Australia for medical assistance they'll be returning back to Nauru once that medical assistance has been provided. | "What we've been very clear about is that if people come to Australia for medical assistance they'll be returning back to Nauru once that medical assistance has been provided. |
"We have returned three people back to Nauru from Australia and they have returned because the medical assistance that they sought in Australia has been provided," Mr Dutton said. | "We have returned three people back to Nauru from Australia and they have returned because the medical assistance that they sought in Australia has been provided," Mr Dutton said. |
Representatives from the refugee agency UNHCR were visiting Nauru when the incident occurred, he said. | Representatives from the refugee agency UNHCR were visiting Nauru when the incident occurred, he said. |
An Iranian asylum seeker was last month fined for trying to kill himself during an attempt to move him and his daughter from the centre on Nauru. | An Iranian asylum seeker was last month fined for trying to kill himself during an attempt to move him and his daughter from the centre on Nauru. |
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