Transcript
Representing the Manus Island detainees is law firm Slater and Gordon, whose principal lawyer Andrew Baker says the men sought damages for false imprisonment and for being held in conditions that caused them physical and psychological harm.
"This settlement is an important step towards recognising the extremely hostile conditions that the detainees have had to endure at Manus Island ... Most were fleeing religious persecution and violence ... The Australian government's position has been that it would not admit that it was detaining nor that it owed a duty of care to the Manus Island detainees. This case sought to challenge both of those propositions."
The president of the Australian Human Rights Commission, professor Gillian Triggs says it's not clear if the settlement indicates that the Australian government is legally responsible for the men.
"But of course from the public's point of view, from the community's, sort of, real point of view, one could say, of course, you would not be agreeing to make payments unless you pretty much accepted that the law in Australia would hold the government responsible for a duty of care to the men that have been detained in these wrongful circumstances."
Amnesty International's Kate Scheutze says the settlement is not an admission of responsibility by the Australian government.
"What they have done is agree to settle this matter out of court and head off at the pass any attempt for a huge number of witnesses to come forward and document serious human rights violations going on Manus. There's going to be a significant number of people left behind on Manus with no clear plans for them there."
The refugee action coalition's Ian Rintoul says he would have preferred that the case went to trial.
"I think it's good in so far as there has been a tacit admission by the Commonwealth that it is responsible for Manus Island. But for myself and I know many other people would have much rather this went to trial and have the opportunity for all the horror of Manus Island to be exposed in the court."
Amy Frew from the Human Rights Law Centre says the future of about 900 men still on Manus Island has not been determined by the settlement.
"What it doesn't do is provide for the future of these men. So the men have been there for almost four years now in limbo and this settlement doesn't get them any closer to permanent safety."
The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre's Pamela Curr says the settlement will be divided amoung the men depending on their time in detention and the hardships they've endured. But she says financial compensation will never be enough.
"No amount of money can compensate these men for witnessing the death of friends through trauma and through illness and medical neglect. And for themselves being subject to a lack of water, a lack of decent food and the conditions that have come along with that. No amount of money can really compensate these men for what they've lost."
Costs for the class action of about $20 million will be covered by the defendants, the Australian government and service providers G4S and Broadspectrum, along with the third party Wilson Security.
