Immigration Minister responsible for the regional processing centre established on Manus Island, Rimbink Pato says the Papua New Guinea Government will comply with the Supreme Court ruling and shut down the centre.
Speaking to PACNEWS in Dakar where he is attending the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Council of Ministers, Pato said his ministry will implement steps necessary to comply with the court ruling.
Pato says the processing centre houses 900 plus asylum seekers under the re-settlement arrangement executed between PNG Government and the Australian Government.
“This week the Court has ruled that those arrangements are unconstitutional and clearly we have a duty to comply with the decision of the court.
“Off course there are judicial processes and remedies available to us. At this point in time, there is a court decision and I have not had the benefit to look at the decision as to what options are available to the PNG Government or the Australian Government. This is a partnership that we want to continue.
“There is a court ruling and the ruling came from the highest office in the land. I think the Prime Minister has issued a statement on it, that we will comply with the court decisions. I will go back and try and implement the steps necessary that gives back to the ruling of the court,” Pato told PACNEWS
A five -man bench ruled this week that the detention centre breached the right to personal liberty in the Constitution of Papua New Guinea.
Pic: PNG Immigration Minister, Rimbink Pato. RNZI