The Papua New Guinea government has agreed to provide access to lawyers to obtain statements from asylum seekers held by Australia on Manus Island.
Australian detention centre on Manus Island. Photo: REFUGEE ACTION COALITION / AFP
The Australian-based Refugee Action Coalition says the move is a major breakthrough in the legal challenge to the Manus detention centre.
The Coalition's spokesperson, Ian Rintoul, says final orders by the Supreme Court will be made next Tuesday, but initial access will be for a period of two months with provision to apply to extend the time period, if necessary.
Mr Rintoul says they are extremely happy to finally have legal access to the detention centre.
He says ever since the detention centre was opened, asylum seekers have been denied access to lawyers and legal advice.
He says the centre has operated under a complete cloak of secrecy under which the Australian Immigration Department, the PNG government, G4S, Transfield and Wilson's Security violated the human rights of asylum seekers with impunity.
Photo: AAP / Dept of Immigration and Citizenship
