Peter Dutton rules out accepting asylum-seekers from Manus Island

Immigration Minister’s comments followed meeting with PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to discuss 850 male asylum-seekers

Peter Dutton has steadfastly ­refused to accept asylum-seekers from Manus Island, arguing that Labor’s landmark refugee resettlement deal with Papua New Guinea allowed genuine refugees to settle in the country.

The Immigration Minister’s comments yesterday followed his meeting with PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to discuss the fates of 850 male asylum-seekers detained at the island camp, which the country’s highest court outlawed in April.

“Under the agreement that was struck by Labor, if people are found to be owed protection — that is, they are refugees — then the arrangement is that they are to settle in PNG and we’re going to honour that arrangement,” Mr Dutton said on ABC Radio.

He said “hundreds” more had accepted taxpayer-funded pack­ag­es to return to their countries.

Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul accused the government of “shamefully” avoiding Australia’s responsibility for those “brutalised” people on Manus Island.

“There is no durable or secure settlement arrangement in PNG. It is a joke that Dutton keep referring to resettlement in PNG,” Mr Rintoul said.