Wait and see, Aust immigration Minister Dutton says on PNG ruling

CANBERRA: Australia's Immigration Minister Peter Dutton is waiting to see what Papua New Guinea says in response to its Supreme Court finding that detention on Manus Island is illegal.

The federal government is adopting a wait-and-see approach to a court decision in Papua New Guinea that ruled the detention of asylum seekers on Manus Island illegal.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton insists the male detainees won't be settled in Australia, but they can return home or go to another country willing to accept them.

"Before people get ahead of themselves let's see what the PNG government has to say, what their response will be and how it is they propose to deal with the situation," he told ABC radio on Wednesday.

Refugees and asylum seekers detained on Manus Island under Australia’s off-shore processing system will seek hundreds-of-thousands of dollars in compensation after Papua New Guinea’s Supreme Court found they were illegally imprisoned.

A lawyer representing the men on Manus Island has told SBS they will pursue the Australian government for compensation and that they should be returned to Christmas Island.

Five judges of the PNG Supreme Court ruled the detention of asylum seekers and refugees breached their right to personal liberty guaranteed in the country’s constitution.