The department issued this statement:

 

• In April 2017, the PNG government confirmed its commitment to close its Manus Regional Processing Centre. For the seven months until October 2017, the Department assisted the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority (ICSA) to gradually decommission the RPC by transitioning services to alternative locations.

 

• Throughout the decommissioning period, the Department also supported PNG ICSA to provide residents of the former-RPC with factsheets about their options, with weekly updates about the decommissioning process, and with a personally addressed letter - all translated into residents' native languages and all informing them about their various options.

 

• At 5pm on October 31, PNG authorities formally closed the Manus RPC. Claims that Australia ‘abandoned' former-residents are not correct however; the department's staff no longer had authority to remain on the PNG Naval Base and they departed, along with other service provider personnel and PNG ICSA staff.

 

• Instead of staying at the RPC, former-residents are able to move to three suitable alternative accommodation options at other locations in PNG's Manus Province. These facilities are standing by to receive former residents and all provide refugees and failed-asylum seekers with food, drinking water, access to health services, some recreational facilities, and more. In addition, transport to take them from the RPC-site in comfort and security is also standing by.

 

• Former-residents who choose to stay at the RPC-site are doing so fully informed that PNG has provided them with suitable alternatives and that these can be accessed at any time. Any claims to the contrary are simply not true.

 

"We appeal to PNG-determined refugees and failed asylum seekers to move to these locations and to access the services and supports that the PNG government has provided," the department said.