20 Feb 2014

Australia PM says he won't succumb to moral blackmail over PNG riot

7:15 pm on 20 February 2014

Australia's prime minister, Tony Abbott, says he will not succumb to moral blackmail over the violence at the Australian detention centre on Papua New Guinea.

Unrest at the Manus Island camp has left an Iranian man dead and more than 70 injured, prompting calls by the opposition Greens to close the camp.

However, Mr Abbott has told reporters he will not step back from what he calls Australia's strong border protection policies.

Canberra has sent the head of its military-run Operation Sovereign Borders, Angus Campbell, to Manus to assess security and work out what happened.

Mr Abbott says Australia will ensure these camps are run fairly, if necessary, firmly.