PNG supreme court decision casts unwelcome light on Australia's refugee policy

The revelation that Australia's controversial immigration processing center in Papua New Guinea must be closed has cast an unwelcome light on the country's refugee policy as political leaders gear up for a national election.

Though the number of refugees trying to reach Australian shores pales in comparison to those that entered Europe, authorities controversially send asylum seekers to two offshore immigration processing centers on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island and the island nation of Nauru.

Human rights activists on Thursday have increased their pressure on Australian political leaders to urgently resettle the some 850 asylum seekers currently housed at Manus Island after the PNG's supreme court found its existence unconstitutional.

The PNG supreme court's move follows continued criticism from the United Nations and international NGOs of Australia's controversial boat turn back policy and associated offshore processing.

Though both major political parties support the current status quo, the left faction of the opposition Labor party split ranks on Thursday in a bid to force a re-examination of the party's policy in the lead up to the election, Fairfax Media reported.

"It's inevitable that the government will need to have another plan for what is going to happen, and the most logical thing to do is bring those people to Australia," Labor MP and former UN lawyer Melissa Parkes told Fairfax Media.

"We have caused them enough suffering already. This is a sick game and it needs to end."

However Australian immigration minister Peter Dutton remained steadfast in his conviction that those who attempt to arrive to Australia by boat will never re-settle in Australia.

The policy, dubbed "stop the boats," was designed to stop the flow of asylum seekers using people smuggling networks following a spate of tragic deaths at sea.

"Not ever before have we had an election that is so important in terms of national security," Dutton told reporters in Melbourne.

"We need to make sure that we have strong, secure boarders."

Dutton maintained asylum seekers are the responsibility of the PNG government, but is in negotiations over potential measures to create an "open center," allowing the asylum seekers to roam freely, potentially curbing the court's ruling.

Australian authorities are also in negotiations with the government of Nauru which has capacity to house the Manus Island detainees at its processing center.

However the conditions on Nauru are worsening by the day, Australian Human Rights Commissioner Gillian Triggs said, after a 23-year-old Iranian man set himself on fire earlier this week in protest over his treatment at the center.

"The conditions on both Manus and Nauru are dangerous and unsustainable for legal and ethical reasons," Triggs said.

PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has not given a timeframe on the center's closure, only saying Australia must make arrangements for the treatment of the men.

However PNG watchers are suggesting O'Neill's statement may only be a bid to satisfy the court until the government can pass emergency legislation or seek a stay order to the court's ruling that the center be closed.

Ultimately, the decision regarding the housed asylum seekers lies with Australia as the pacific nation only has responsibility for their processing and resettlement, should the refugees choose.

Australia is likely going to the polls on July 2. Endit