Australia's Department of Immigration and Border Protection has rejected claims it was involved in the cover up of an alleged rape on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.
The PNG police have accused three expat security guards of sexually assaulting a local female worker at the island's asylum seeker centre and being flown out of PNG before an inquiry is complete.
The department says it was made aware immediately in mid July of an incident involving three service provider staff and a local staff member but it says no allegations of a criminal nature have been made in connection with the incident.
The department says the three Wilsons staff were stood down and returned to Australia and their removal was done with the full knowledge and agreement of the PNG police.
It says it is surprised by the public comments made by the PNG police, in particular the implication the staff were returned in order to avoid a possible investigation.
The Department says it is ready to help the PNG authorities if there is a case to answer.