Papua New Guinea could resettle the first refugees from Manus Island within weeks, with the Australian opposition calling for "active engagement" to aid the transition.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten met with PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato in Port Moresby on the first leg of his climate-change focused Pacific tour.
The Pacific nation revealed last month it would start resettling genuine refugees from the Australian-run detention centre on Manus Island.
The move earned a tick from the PNG cabinet and Mr O'Neill says the first resettlements could take place in coming weeks.
"It could be well within the year," he said following a meeting with Mr Shorten on Monday.
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Labor's immigration spokesman Richard Marles, who is travelling with the Labor delegation, welcomed the resettlements but criticised the Australian government for taking so long to become involved with PNG over resettlements.
He believes it's not good enough the coalition took months to start negotiations following its election win in 2013.
"It's more than two years since the regional resettlement was signed and we're only just seeing resettlements potentially occur," he said.
However, Mr Marles is confident refugees can lead productive lives in PNG, as was always intended when the agreement was signed by Labor.
But it did require the active engagement of Australia and this needs to come from the Turnbull government, he said.
About half of the 1000 Manus Island detainees have been assessed with about 250 asylum seekers deemed to be refugees.
In all, it's understood about 55 per cent are expected to be found genuine refugees but it's not known how many of those would want to settle in PNG.
Resettlement would be easier for highly-qualified refugees, such as engineers but the nation could struggle to find employment for those with basic skills, such as farming.
Those not prepared to stay in the country are so far without another option, so finding a third resettlement country is still crucial.
Mr O'Neill conceded not everyone was happy with the Manus Island detention centre solution but said it was effective and better than people dying at sea.
"We are able to house them in a safe environment where they've got clean water, better accommodation," he said.
Mr Marles said it was vital the Australian government remember PNG came to Australia's assistance to help stop the flow of asylum seekers entering by boat, a sentiment echoed by the PNG prime minister.
"PNG, as you know, is the country that stopped the boats that were coming through because of the solution that we offered to Australia," Mr O'Neill said.
But Mr O'Neill sidestepped questions on whether the move was the result of talks with the Australian government, saying his country was making good on its commitment to both Labor and the coalition.
"We are all about honouring our word," he said.
"We'll do all we can to assist Australia," on the issues of refugees, he said.
