Alternate Manus facilities comprise food, water: Lawyer

Two other facilities with services are available for refugees and non-refugees, which are better than Lombrum, says lawyer Robert Bradshaw.

Bradshaw represents the PNG Immigration Minister, Petrus Thomas, in an application that was filed by Kurdish-Iranian journalist, Behrouz Boochani, which went before the Supreme Court today.

He submitted before the court that all services, comprising food, water, electricity, full medical cover and attractive allowance, were available at the other facilities.

“Refugees are offered one-off relocation allowance of K250 when they move from Lombrum to the East Lorengau Transit centre.

“They also get K500 phone credits and allowance of K250 per week. That’s more than what any university students receive,” Bradshaw told the court today, when quoting acting Chief Migration officer, Solomon Kantha’s affidavit in court.

The court was told the three transit facilities at East Lorengau, Hillside and West Lorengau are managed by the PNG government at this stage, with the support of the Australian government.

Despite the facility at Lombrum, formerly being run by Australia, only the PNG Immigration Minister was represented in the case today.

This was because the PNG courts have no jurisdiction over the Australian Federal Government activities in PNG. 

(Picture of the East Lorengau facility in Manus).

 

Author: 
Sally Pokiton