The full bench of the Papua New Guinea Supreme Court was today expected to hear an application on behalf of 302 Manus Island detainees for the return to Australia of all those asylum seekers and refugees who wish to go there.
Australia's Refugee Action Coalition said the lead counsel acting for the applicants is the retired Federal Court of Australia judge, Ron Merkel.
It said the application for Summary Judgement follows the PNG Supreme Court's finding in April that the Manus Island detention centre is illegal and that the Australian and PNG governments 'must take steps to cease the illegal detention of asylum seekers on Manus and the continued breach of their human rights'.
Asylum seekers in Manus Island camp Photo: supplied
The coaltion said that if the Supreme Court grants the judgement it would order the PNG and Australian governments to make all necessary arrangements for the transfer to Australia of all those applicants who wish to return there within 30 days.
For those applicants who do not wish to return to Australia, the judgement would require the governments of PNG and Australia to transfer them to a third country capable of offering them a durable solution.
Australia has said none of the people it has sent to Manus will be allowed into Australia.
