The Age argues in its recent editorial that Australia retains an abiding legal and moral duty to care for asylum seekers who seek our protection. Therefore, Australia should bring the refugees here for resettlement.
The stated rationale of detaining asylum seekers in offshore detention centres has been to deter other asylum seekers from approaching Australia by boat.
There can be no pretence that this is a satisfactory solution - or, indeed, a "solution" at all. It is a morally indefensible and inhumane practice that has been denounced by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Amnesty International and others, and which smothers Australia with shame.
Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court has ruled that detaining asylum seekers on Manus Island is in breach of human rights principles enshrined in PNG's Constitution. There must be an end to it.
The PNG government says it will close Manus Island, and it says the responsibility for deciding what happens to the 900 men at the facility rests with Australia.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has declared they will not be brought here because to back down from the tough policies would send a green-light to people-smugglers to resume their trade.
It is imperative to stamp out the odious trade of people smugglers but, in doing so, governments should never lose sight of the people who genuinely need empathy and care.
This nation retains an abiding legal and moral duty to care for asylum seekers who seek our protection. It remains Australia's duty to bring the refugees here for resettlement.
