Almost three years after it was ruled that the detention of asylum seekers on Manus Island was unconstitutional a group of lawyers acting on behalf of the men are claiming they are still being detained unlawfully.
But despite this, hundreds of asylum seekers still remain living in compounds on the island.
Australian barrister Greg Barns, who is advising the PNG legal team on the action, said they are demanding that if the court rules in favour of the men, the PNG government works with them to provide them with travel documents and have them resettled in a safe third country.
He said some of the 550 applications had already been submitted, and the remaining applications were being submitted to the courts “as we speak”. “The PNG constitution has a number of human rights contained within it, and sadly Australia does not have human rights legislation,” Mr Barns said.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'We are being underpaid, overworked': Paladin staff walk off job on Manus IslandPaladin staff at Australian-funded immigration centres on Manus Island have walked off the job, claiming they have been underpaid and overworked.
Read more »
'We are being underpaid, overworked': Paladin staff walk off job on Manus IslandPaladin staff at Australian-funded immigration centres on Manus Island have walked off the job, claiming they have been underpaid and overworked.
Read more »
Manus Island refugee addresses UN over Australia's 'cruel' asylum seeker policyManus Island detainee Abdulaziz_Ada details the impact of six years of Australia's offshore detention policy at the UN
Read more »
Fresh bid for freedom: 550 Manus men launch new court challengeAlmost three years after a landmark court case declared their detention illegal, 550 men on Manus Island will launch a fresh bid for freedom.
Read more »
Asylum seeker transfers will cause hospital delays: Dutton | Sky News AustraliaThe Home Affairs Minister claims asylum seekers transferred from Manus Island and Nauru under Labor's medivac laws will clog Australia's health care system.\n\nPeter Dutton told reporters on Friday that people would miss out on medical services 'because people are taking it from Nauru and Manus'.\n\nOpposition Leader Bill Shorten rubbished the minister's comments and argued any problems with the overstretched health system stemmed from Morrison government funding cuts.\n\n\n
Read more »
Asylum seeker transfers will cause hospital delays: Dutton | Sky News AustraliaThe Home Affairs Minister claims asylum seekers transferred from Manus Island and Nauru under Labor's medivac laws will clog Australia's health care system.\n\nPeter Dutton told reporters on Friday that people would miss out on medical services 'because people are taking it from Nauru and Manus'.\n\nOpposition Leader Bill Shorten rubbished the minister's comments and argued any problems with the overstretched health system stemmed from Morrison government funding cuts.\n\n\n
Read more »
Morrison won't amend 'medevac' legislationScott Morrison has ruled out trying to wind back changes to medical evacuations for asylum seekers and refugees on Manus Island and Nauru.
Read more »
'People don't die on planes. They die on boats': PM defends asylum seeker focusPrime Minister Scott Morrison has defended his focus on asylum seekers who arrive by boat, along with a Manus Island contract awarded to a little-known company.
Read more »
Medivac bill will see Australians miss out on treatment: Cormann | Sky News AustraliaFULL INTERVIEW: Mathias Cormann says Australians will be 'kicked out of their houses' and will be forced to wait longer for medical treatment if asylum seekers from Manus Island and Nauru are flown to the mainland under medivac laws.\n\nSo far, no asylum seeker on Manus Island and Nauru has been treated in Australia, despite the passage of the controversial medivac bill last month.\n\nThe legislation, which has yet to receive royal assent, gives doctors a greater say over whether asylum seekers in offshore detention centres can be flown to Australia for treatment, though it still allows the Home Affairs minister to reject transfers on national security grounds.\n\nLabor frontbencher Kristina Keneally has told Sky News the government is engaging in 'fearmongering' over the issue.\n\nMr Cormann says despite Labor's claims, it's a 'fact' that asylum seekers transferred from offshore detention centres would be utilising facilities at the expense of Australians.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Read more »
Fact Check: Why doctors can't use the medevac bill to get healthy refugees to AustraliaThe Government's claim that the medevac bill will allow those held on Nauru and Manus Island to come to Australia without being sick is spin.
Read more »