Report tells of chaos, confusion on Manus

 THE Australian-run detention centre on Manus Island was gripped with chaos and confusion during a violent clash between the Papua New Guinea police mobile squad hired to secure the centre and the PNG army, Australian Immigration Department documents show.

The federal opposition and the Greens have accused the government of a “cover-up” over the seriousness of the “‘critical” incident that led to Australian expatriate staff being evacuated, while local staff and asylum seekers were left behind.

An investigation by Fairfax Media has uncovered details of the Oct 18 security clash that was played down at the time by Immigration Minister Scott Morrison, who said it was a “‘matter for the PNG government”.

It comes against a background of simmering tensions on Manus over land issues and the centre.