Manus wants K40 million for asylum seekers
18 May 2011
BY GEMMA JONES & ALISON REHN
AUSTRALIA COULD be forced to reimburse PNG almost $16 million in compensation to the people of Manus Island if asylum seekers are sent there.
A PNG government source said the compensation claim would have to be factored into a financial agreement in return for accepting asylum seekers. The deal could be reached within a week.
The people of Manus Island want K40 million which is close to $16 million.
"We want some kind of understanding with Australia, if they can factor it in to address it within the economic package to bring to us," the source said. "There must be a package put forward to us."
The source said Australia had been pressuring the government for an agreement.
"They wanted a deadline of last Monday week, so the budget could come out on that Tuesday. That did not happen. We needed more time, it was a rush," he said.
A spokesman for Immigration Minister Chris Bowen declined to comment, saying "when we have something to announce we will be able to say more."
Source: Daily Telegraph, Sydney
PNG’s acting PM travels to Manus to discuss asylum seeker centre [Radio New Zealand] -
Papua New Guinea’s acting Prime Minister Sam Abal is in Manus province today to discuss Australia’s request for re-opening the asylum seeker facility there.
Manus Island was used by Australia for the processing of its asylum seekers in the early years of last decade.
The Australian and PNG governments have been in talks over re-establishing the detention facility on the remote northern island.
Mr Abal has gone to Manus for a day trip to gauge the views of the Governor and local MP on the possible re-opening.
Meanwhile in PNG’s capital, Mr Abal’s son Theo remains in police custody, charged with the murder of a woman whose body was found in the grounds of the acting prime minister’s Port Moresby home last Monday morning.
Police have increased security around the acting prime minister for fear of a revenge attack.
Posted by: Peter Kranz | 20 June 2011 at 12:57 PM