Dozens of Manus Island detainees say a $70 million compensation settlement for their wrongful imprisonment is not high enough.
The Australian Government and centre operators agreed to pay 1923 current and former inmates in June to avoid a massive injury and false imprisonment trial.
The deal has the support of 70 per cent of the detainees but 164 raised objections with the court that will on Wednesday decide whether to approve the deal.
Dozens of Manus Island detainees say a $70 million compensation settlement for their imprisonment is not high enough
The Australian Government and detention centre operators agreed to pay 1923 current and former inmates in June to avoid a massive class action trial
Complaints included the payout being too small, it not resolving the fate of those still locked up on the Papua New Guinean island, and that it didn’t include an admission of guilt.
Others wanted the trial to proceed to make the conditions they experienced public, independent counsel assisting the Victorian Supreme Court, Michael Rush, said.
‘This case provided an opportunity for the public exposure of the circumstances and events that took place on Manus Island and the effect of those events on those who are there,’ he told the court on Monday.
The deal has the support of 70 per cent of the detainees but 164 raised objections with the court that will on Wednesday decide whether to approve the deal
Two Iranian refugees who were reportedly bashed by a group of PNG police and immigration officials on New Year’s Eve, who would be given more compensation under the deal’s terms
Iraqi refugee Mohammad Albederee who became severely ill on Manus Island before his refugee claim was approved
Another issue was that the payout averaged $36,745 per person but was divided by how much time recipients spent in detention, which some felt was unfair.
Individual payments would also be affected by any injuries they suffered and if they were present at events like the February 2014 riot, where one was killed and 77 hurt.
However, all but 19 of the detainees – mostly current inmates – wanted to get their payouts if the deal was approved despite their objects.
Complaints included the payout being too small, it not resolving the fate of those still locked up on the Papua New Guinean island, and that it didn’t include an admission of guilt
Others wanted the trial to proceed to make the conditions they experienced public
Taxpayers and centre operators G4S and Broadspectrum will hand over $70 million plus $20 million in legal fees if Justice Cameron Macaulay approves.
Legal firm Slater and Gordon, which hopes to get the money paid to group members before the centre closes at the end of October.
About 800 detainees remain on the island while the agreement to resettle those whose refugee claims were approved in the U.S. was worked through.
Taxpayers and centre operators G4S and Broadspectrum will hand over $70 million plus $20 million in legal fees