Pacific

PNG stresses co-operation with Australia on Manus refugees

09:04 am on 11 April 2017

Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister says his government will work with Canberra to reach a resettlement outcome for the men held on Manus Island.

The Manus Island detention centre. Photo: Behrouz Boochani

The majority of the over 800 men, who Canberra has excluded from ever settling in Australia, have been found to be refugees.

Australia's Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said it was PNG's responsibility to settle those refugees not included in Canberra's planned refugee swap deal with the US.

However very few refugees were willing to resettle in PNG.

PNG's Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato said "where there's a will there's a way".

"We want to contribute to an international issue, and it's a global concern, it's a regional issue. We want to make a contribution. Clearly the problem came in through the hands of Australia. We agreed to assist Australia, and the partnership is a long term and enduring one, so we will work together."

Manus Island detention centre. Photo: Behrouz Boochani.

Both governments said the Manus processing centre would be closed before November.