Papua New Guinea immigration authorities say 898 asylum seekers and refugees on Manus Island are no longer in detention.

Local authorities have placed new restrictions, allowing detainees to leave the centre during the day or leave the island, provided they sign an agreement to be resettled in the Pacific Island nation.

According to media, around half the men kept in detention on Manus have been assessed as genuine refugees.

The decision follows a PNG Supreme Court ruling that found the centre breached the ment’s constitutional rights and was illegal.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton told reporters in Canberra that there’s no change in Australia’s role after Manus Island became an open facility.

He added that he did not expect Australia to renegotiate its contract.

“The Australian side has made it very clear that people won’t be settled in Australia and the PNG side has made it very clear that they want to comply with the ruling of the court,” he said.

“They’re a sovereign nation and they have responsibility for their processing centre.”

– Tivi Tuan-san