A constitutional challenge to Australia's detention centre on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island could be resurrected as early as next week.
Loani Henao, the lawyer for the PNG opposition leader, Belden Namah, declared his intention to renew the challenge, moments after Justice David Cannings dismissed the case in PNG's Supreme Court today.
Mr Namah had challenged the PNG government's ability to sign a memorandum of understanding with Australia to fly in asylum seekers.
Outside court Mr Henao said the ruling brought clarity to the issues in the proceedings and on behalf of Mr Namah he would begin work on filing a fresh application as early as Monday next week.
Justice Cannings ruled that Mr Namah did not follow proper procedure when he filed the challenge on March 1 this year.
Meanwhile work is set to start this month on building permanent facilities at the processing centre on Manus Island.