More Manus detainees expected to register to receive damages: Lawyer

At least 1400 current and former Manus Island detainees are expected to be paid their share of $70 million in compensation before the centre closes next month.

a protest on Manus Island

Image of a protest on Manus Island, from Behrouz Boochani on Facebook, August 25, 2017. Source: Facebook

More people who have been detained on Manus Island are expected to sign up to share in $70 million compensation, despite some of the men who remain there being adamant that it is not enough.

So far 1383 of the 1923 group members in the class action, representing the majority of people detained on Manus Island since 2012, have registered to be receive compensation.
The Victorian Supreme Court's approval of the settlement with the Australian government and operators of the Manus Island Regional Processing Centre is expected to spur some of those who had been sitting on the fence to sign up.

Slater and Gordon practice group leader Rory Walsh expects many more will register now that it has been approved.

"We anticipate there's a significant number of them who are awaiting the outcome of the decision," he said.

The registration deadline has been extended until October 13 to provide more time to track down 215 group members who have not been contacted about the June settlement, most of whom have returned to their country of origin.

Slater and Gordon hopes to get the money paid to the current and former detainees, who come from 18 countries, beore the offshore immigration detention centre closes by October 31.

"They're keen to get this approved and to get some compensation to them so they can get some certainty, given the significant uncertainty in their ahead for this group," Mr Walsh said.

About 800 men remain in the Manus centre, some of whom are expected to be resettled as part of Australia's deal with the US.
Most of the 164 objections to the deal came from those still on Manus, who argued the $70 million in compensation was too low and the settlement did not resolve their ongoing plight or that of those people whose claims for refugee status are still to be determined.

However, the majority of the objectors also registered to participate in the settlement if it was approved.

Justice Cameron Macaulay concluded the $70 million was a fair and reasonable sum, noting it was clear money to be distributed to the group members as an additional $20 million was set aside for costs.

Fifty-six detainees have opted out of the class action, preserving their legal rights.

Mr Walsh said the legal firm did not want to impose the settlement on group members.

"We are acutely aware that these people have been treated terribly and in a very high-handed manner," he said.

The time spent in detention impacts individual compensation amounts, as well as any physical and psychological injuries.

Detainee Benham Moghimi told the ABC on Wednesday the compensation amount wasn't adequate.

"They tortured me and they are still torturing me and the $70 million for me is not enough," he said.

"Because so far 1,300 registered and it means we will get less and less money, and it's not enough for my future treatment, for my counselling, for whatever the Australian Government has done to me these past four years."

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Source: AAP



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