Manus

Their writs were issued by the acting Governor General, Leo Dion.

For Central provinces the Kairuku rural ward 5, Koiari Rural ward 2, Rigo coast wards 2, 9 and 10 will all be going for their by-elections.

In Manus, Bisakani rural Ward 8, Tetidu Rural Ward 6, Rapatona Rural Ward 1 and Aua Wuvulu rural ward 5.

While in Morobe province, Buang rural and Wau Bulolo urban will both go to the polls for their president seat.

Transfield said on Monday that it had been notified by the department that it was the preferred tenderer to provide welfare and security services on the islands after its existing contract expires on October 31.

“Subject to completion of a contract, the company will be responsible for providing these services for a further five years,” Transfield said.

The renewal of the contract will heighten focus on Transfield's management of the detention centres after several pension funds sold out of the stock following allegations of alleged human rights abuses.

This is to assure industry superannuation funds that it is not committing human rights abuses.

Transfield expects the Department of Immigration and Border Protection to renew a AUD$2.2 billion (US$1.5 billion) contract providing operational, maintenance and welfare support ­services for detention centres on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea and Nauru within the next few weeks before its current contract expires on October 31.

The case is being brought by the Human Rights Law Centre on behalf of 150 asylum seekers who were temporarily moved to Australia from Nauru for medical treatment.

When it was originally raised in May, the case argued that there was no Australian law which gave the government the power to facilitate offshore arrangements.

But the government, with the support of the opposition Labor party, hastily brought in such a law.

Sources in Papua New Guinea have told the ABC the two main companies being considered are Transfield and Serco.

However, both reported frontrunners have been embroiled in scandals in recent weeks, with allegations of sexual assault on Manus Island and brutal 'fight club' videos filmed within a New Zealand prison.

The ABC understands Australia wants to hand over total control of the Manus Island detention centre to PNG authorities in the five-year period but is willing to extend the contract for an extra four years if that does not happen.

While police conduct investigations eye witnesses say the deceased, believed to be in his early 20s was walking home in the evening when he was attacked.

They say the young man and his two younger brothers had gone to town to use the ATM and were walking home to Werei camp when they were attacked by two men.

The reason for the attack is unknown at this stage.

Police say the deceased received a heavy blow to his head and had fallen into a nearby river called

 “Wara pukpuk”.

Residents who rushed to the commotion found the body lying in the river.