PAPUA
New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says there is no legislative
hurdle to reopening the Manus Island detention centre, ahead of a visit
by Australian Immigration Minister Chris Bowen.
Mr Bowen is expected to touch down in Port Moresby on Thursday to hold talks with PNG officials about the Manus centre and Australia's offshore processing regime.
Manus landowners say they are still considering legal action against the PNG government if their demands for $A45 million in infrastructure contracts and aid as part of the Manus deal between Australia and PNG are not met.
Mr O'Neill said on Wednesday no new laws need to passed in PNG's parliament to open the detention centre on Lombrum Airforce base.
Mr Bowen is expected to touch down in Port Moresby on Thursday to hold talks with PNG officials about the Manus centre and Australia's offshore processing regime.
Manus landowners say they are still considering legal action against the PNG government if their demands for $A45 million in infrastructure contracts and aid as part of the Manus deal between Australia and PNG are not met.
Mr O'Neill said on Wednesday no new laws need to passed in PNG's parliament to open the detention centre on Lombrum Airforce base.
"I am advised by our attorney-general that that is not necessary," Mr O'Neill told AAP.
"The legal framework that we have at present is adequate."
Australian defence personnel are currently on Manus island setting up a facility to house asylum seekers.
The Howard-era Manus facility closed in 2004 and the site has fallen into serious disrepair since.
A Manus Island landowner group, who say the airforce base is on land leased to the PNG government, on Friday issued an ultimatum for officials to meet with them within seven days to discuss the allocation of building contracts.
Interim chairwoman of the Pwahalopu'un development company landowner group, Mary Handen, says government officials have yet to meet with her.
"We're waiting for people to talk to us and we're looking at a legal option as a last resort. We still stand by that," she said.
"At the moment we have a task force on the ground unifying everybody."
Mr O'Neill says the negotiations have been left to Manus Island governor Charlie Benjamin and the island's provincial government.
(The landowners) have to go through them," Mr O'Neill said.
"If they feel we need further discussions, we will do so.
"At present the governor and the provincial government of Manus are handling the matter quite adequately. The situation on the ground is pretty calm and pretty tolerant, where people are expecting the asylum seekers to be there as soon as possible."
Mr Bowen on Wednesday flew to Nauru, where he is expected to meet President Sprent Dabwido and Australian Defence Force personnel on the island.
He will also inspect the processing centre on Nauru, where 148 asylum seekers are already being housed in temporary accommodation on the island.
In PNG, he will meet with O'Neill and senior members of his cabinet. The Australian
"The legal framework that we have at present is adequate."
Australian defence personnel are currently on Manus island setting up a facility to house asylum seekers.
The Howard-era Manus facility closed in 2004 and the site has fallen into serious disrepair since.
A Manus Island landowner group, who say the airforce base is on land leased to the PNG government, on Friday issued an ultimatum for officials to meet with them within seven days to discuss the allocation of building contracts.
Interim chairwoman of the Pwahalopu'un development company landowner group, Mary Handen, says government officials have yet to meet with her.
"We're waiting for people to talk to us and we're looking at a legal option as a last resort. We still stand by that," she said.
"At the moment we have a task force on the ground unifying everybody."
Mr O'Neill says the negotiations have been left to Manus Island governor Charlie Benjamin and the island's provincial government.
(The landowners) have to go through them," Mr O'Neill said.
"If they feel we need further discussions, we will do so.
"At present the governor and the provincial government of Manus are handling the matter quite adequately. The situation on the ground is pretty calm and pretty tolerant, where people are expecting the asylum seekers to be there as soon as possible."
Mr Bowen on Wednesday flew to Nauru, where he is expected to meet President Sprent Dabwido and Australian Defence Force personnel on the island.
He will also inspect the processing centre on Nauru, where 148 asylum seekers are already being housed in temporary accommodation on the island.
In PNG, he will meet with O'Neill and senior members of his cabinet. The Australian
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