Prime Minister Tony Abbott insists he is happy to co-operate with Papua New Guinean authorities over the return of three Australian men accused of rape.
The former security guards had worked at the Manus Island immigration detention centre before they were stood down and sent back to Australia after an incident in mid-July.
"Crime is crime is crime," Mr Abbott told reporters in Port Moresby on Thursday.
"Credible allegations must be investigated and prosecutions made if there was strong evidence of law breaking."
Due processes of law must always be followed, Mr Abbott said.
"Where people have done the wrong thing, they should be convicted and punished," he said.
PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill raised the subject with Mr Abbott during bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Pacific Islands Forum.
Mr O'Neill is unapologetic about his country's tough penalties on rape convictions, which carry the death sentence.
He expressed general frustration with Australian expats evading the PNG justice system with quick evacuations - citing two Australian guards involved in a drink-driving car crash on Manus island a fortnight ago.
Police and locals are angry the three Wilson Security guards involved in rape allegations were removed before a proper police investigation was carried out.
Detention centre operator Transfield Services reportedly told the victim's family the three men would be returned to the island to face police questioning, after a relative hijacked a bus and truck belonging to the facility.
Share
