In addition to interviewing as many refugees as possible, there were a few specific people that I wanted to interview as they have important experiences to share. 

·        Behrouz Boochani, a human-rights activist, journalist and film producer, who has been detained in Manus Island since August 2014. 

·         Dr Richard Glied, one of the doctors in the International SOS specialist emergency medical team who has given evidence to the inquest looking into refugee Hamid Kehazaei’s death. 

·         Interpreters and guards in the detention centre

·         Mental health professionals working with the refugees

He shudders as he speaks about the sea voyage to Australia. “The boat was not seaworthy and the engine kept breaking down. There were times when we thought it was all over.” As they neared Christmas Island the boat was spotted and the refugees were taken aboard an Australian Navy vessel. “At that point we still thought we were going to Australia. When they mentioned Papua New Guinea, I had to look for it on a map because I had never heard of it.” After a few days on Christmas Island he was flown to Papua New Guinea under heavy guard. 

“The detention centre looks like a prison. It is extremely crowded and there is no privacy.” The lack of privacy is an issue which mental health staff have repeatedly raised stating that it can exacerbate symptoms of PTSD. Lack of sleep is also a common problem. Some of the refugees lie awake for hours because of anxiety about their future or the situation of their families back home. For R.S., his insomnia is a result of the heat and his lack of action during the day. Many of the refugees complain of boredom, and of unending days spent queuing for food, toilets, interviews or appointments. 

R.S. says that he doesn’t feel safe and that other refugees are sometimes violent. “I am not protected here. In Darfur my life was in danger but at least I had my family with me. I am not looking for a better life, just a normal life. ”  

Any asylum seekers that were on board on any vessel without permission were stopped by the Australian Navy and moved to one of the two islands. The aim was to stop more asylum seekers immigrating to Australia, this was the ‘Pacific Solution’.  

The facilities were set up with the help of the Nauru and Papua New Guinea government. Majority of the people situated on the two Islands arrived in late 2001 and early 2002. Between 2001 and September 2003, 1544 asylum seekers were taken in. Many of these people were from Afghanistan and Iraq. After a while, some of the asylum seekers were transferred to Christmas Island. 

Due to living conditions, and denied permission to inspect the centre, former President Kevin Rudd closed both centres in 2008. It was re-opened by Julia Gillard in 2012 to prevent more asylum seekers gaining resettlement in Australia.

TIMELINE of what happened then until Now  

·         September 2014 – Iranian, Hamid Khazaei passed away in a Brisbane Hospital due to an infected foot and not receiving medical help in time. 

 

·         January 2015 – Three Hundred asylum seekers on Manus Island go on a hunger strike and self-harm. 

 

·         July 2015 – There were media reports of violent crimes such as machete attacks, murder and gang rape. 

 

·         February 2016 – Six Hundred asylum seekers go to court for the legality of the Manus Centre.

 

·         April 2016 – The court finds the centre illegal, and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neil confirms closing of the detention centre. 

 

·         December 2016 -  Sudanese refugee passes away after months of falls, seizures and blackouts. 

 

·         May 2017 -  Good Friday shooting. Papua New Guinea military shoots at Manu Island. Nine people were Injured. 

 

·         May 2017 – Confirmation of the centre closing October, 31. 

 

·         June 2017 – Australian Government pays $70 million to more than two-thousand detainees. 

 

·         August 2017 – An Iranian asylum seeker passes away due to suicide. 

 

·         September 2017 – Twenty-five people leave Papua New Guinea and relocate to the US under a resettlement deal. 

 

·         October 2017 – Fearing their safety and security, more than six-hundred Manus Island residents refuse to leave for Lorengau. 

 

 

It has been said that parts of the centre will now start to be decommissioned. 

He has called on Australians to step up and match his offer, with one refugee advocate already making his spare room available — as anyone with a room to share could and should.