PNG drops restrictions at Manus detention centre

1:57 pm on 4 May 2016

Papua New Guinea's Member of Parliament for Manus Island says restrictions on asylum seekers in the island's offshore processing facility have been relaxed following the Supreme Court's ruling that their detention is illegal.

Refugee advocates protest in Manly against Australia's treatment of refugees, on 22 February 2014.

Refugee advocates protest in Manly against Australia's treatment of refugees, on 22 February 2014. Photo: AFP

The MP Ronny Knight says the detainees are enjoying more freedom in and out of the facility.

"The internal compounds are open, internally they can move from one compound to another without any restrictions. I believe they have free access to mobile phones whereas before mobile phones were restricted to certain times only and only certain people were allowed to have mobile phones. They're also allowed to leave the camp and go to Lorengau town during daylight hours, so it's quite a different atmosphere from what it was before."

Australia's Refugee Action Coalition says mobile phone restrictions were briefly relaxed for detainees on Manus Island but have since been reimposed.

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