Detainees on Manus Island should interact with the community, says PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. Source: AAP
AUSTRALIA needs to consider allowing asylum seekers housed at the detention facility on Manus Island to interact with the local community, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says.
Mr O'Neill made the comments on Tuesday in response to a question about mounting criticism in Australia over the running of the centre.
"We don't run the facility, we provide the opportunity for (Australia) to run the processing centre, and we've always stressed it has to be done in a humane as possible way and manner - we expect that to be carried out," Mr O'Neill told reporters in Port Moresby.
"If children are on board, we have already offered to the Australian government and everybody that the refugees must be allowed to interact with our communities.
"I think there needs to be some consideration given to that by the Australian government."
On Thursday, Paris Aristotle, part of former Defence chief Angus Houston's refugee policy review panel, said safeguards needed to mitigate the risk of mental health harm have not been put in place at the detention centre.
He said he was particularly concerned about the arbitrary detention of asylum seekers, especially children, on Manus Island.
"Something needs to be done to address that immediately," he told ABC TV's Lateline on Thursday.
"Six months in, I don't think it's appropriate that children are still held in detention anywhere.
"If they were free to move around, if there were adequate services available for them and so forth, then that may have been an acceptable option."
He said he has had discussions with the federal government and immigration department and doesn't believe they are ignoring the panel's recommendations.
Mr O'Neill says the people of Manus would welcome more interaction with the asylum seekers.
"Manus is one of the most peaceful places in this country and people are very friendly, very welcoming.
"The community has willingly said they are free to move around and engage with them."
Following Mr Aristotle's comments, Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young called for the facility to be closed down.
Australian authorities on Thursday transferred the first group of asylum seekers to be moved to the Papua New Guinea processing facility in two months.
Police last month charged 18 asylum seekers with fighting and assault following a series of incidents at the temporary facility on Lombrum Naval base.
Some of the detainees then went on a week-long hunger strike to protest the charges.
A legal challenge to the centre has been repeatedly adjourned as lawyers haggle over procedural issues.
It is next expected to come before Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia on Wednesday for a directions hearing.
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