The Greens have called on the federal government to safely evacuate hundreds of Manus Island refugees and asylum seekers to Australia, labelling their forced removal from the island's detention centre as a "dark day" in the nation's history.
PNG police and immigration officers have stormed Manus Island's decommissioned detention centre, trashing refugees' belongings and shelters and ordering them to leave.
"This is a dark, sad day in Australia's national history. It's a foul and now-bloodied stain on our national conscience," Greens Senator Nick McKim said in Hobart on Thursday.
McKim refuted Immigration Minister Peter Dutton's claim a new $10 million facility was ready to house the 400 men who had set up camp in the centre.
"Dutton tried to starve and dehydrate the men out of his prison, now he's using violence to try to force them out," he said.
"This is a very fluid situation and it stands on a knife edge.
"The men have to be evacuated to safety immediately."
