Pato: 515 on Manus

 MINISTER for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Rimbink Pato says 515 asylum seekers on Manus have had their refugee status determined under the Regional Resettlement Arrangements.

He confirmed that 472 “have been determined to be refugees and are free to depart from the processing centre and commence settling in PNG”. 

He said 61 had already left the centre to undergo training to prepare for life in PNG. 

Six have left Manus and were believed to be living and working in Lae. 

“Many of these refugees have skills which are in short supply in PNG and are needed by employers to grow our economy,” Pato said.

“They will be provided some short-term support to establish themselves in locations where they can obtain jobs, including Lae and Port Moresby. We expect to finish refugee status assessments for the remaining asylum seekers by the end of March.”  

He said those who received a negative assessment were entitled to apply for an independent review.

“I expect these to be finalised by the end of  June,” he said.

“Those people who are not refugees will be required to go home. They can either be assisted to return voluntarily or else they will be deported.”