Immigration Minister Tony Burke says there will be an independent review into the claims of torture and rape at the Manus Island asylum detention centre.
Former senior security manager Rod St George told SBS Dateline that the centre was not fit for dogs.
He also said that staff at the centre had turned a blind eye to what was going on.
“I've never seen human beings so destitute, so helpless and so hopeless before,” he told reporter Mark Davis, as he described repeated instances of rape and sexual abuse between asylum seekers with the full knowledge of staff.
“We might separate people in those circumstances on the mainland, but there aren't any facilities at Manus to do that, so these people who have been assaulted are forced to remain back in the tent,” he said.
St George also described how detainee 'heavies' forced other asylum seekers to sew their lips together, and he detailed how one man had an ear drum perforated when he was tortured by other detainees.
Minister Burke says now, after having spoken to Mr St George over the phone, the incidents of abuse won't be allowed to happen again.
"The concept of being able to segregate people who are involved in any form of intimidation...is something - that in terms of management of the process of the centre - is important.
"It was a specific suggestion that was put to me by that person that was the source of the SBS program (Dateline) when I spoke to him on the phone. (It was) one of the things that he said we should look at.
"I have sought advice and I agree with him. And I've made sure that happens."
Mr Burke said in coming days the immigration department secretary would be announcing an independent review into the Manus Island rape allegations and Nauru riots.
The review would establish facts, pass on relevant information to Nauru and PNG authorities and recommend improvements to avoid repeat incidents, he said.
Mr Burke said there would now be segregated areas set up so "individuals involved in forms ofintimidation" could be separated.
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