An asylum seeker advocacy group has criticised a visit to Australia's immigration detention facility on Manus Island by the Opposition's immigration spokesman.
The Papua New Guinea government has approved a visa that will allow it to settle refugees.
Refugee advocates say a US deal to resettle refugees from the Manus Island detention centre is expected to include a very small number of detainees.
Refugee advocacy groups say a terminally ill man is not being allowed to enter Australia to receive palliative care.
The government's decision to suspend immigration claims of Sri Lankan and Afghan asylum seekers could see people detained indefinitely for years, refugee advocates say.
A refugee advocacy group says the immigration minister is perpetuating a myth by saying there's no need for any Sri Lankans to travel to Australia by boat and seek asylum.
Five Iraqi asylum seekers have gone on hunger strike at Christmas Island, days after the federal government changed its visa system, a refugee advocate says.
The Refugee Action Coalition says detainees on Manus Island have lost any hope of being resettled to the United States as part of an Australian deal with US president Barack Obama.
Asylum seekers were still on a hunger strike at the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation on Thursday, according to the Refugee Action Coalition, with one still in hospital.
Two Iranian refugees who were arrested after allegedly being bashed by up to 10 police on Manus Island on New Year's Eve have been released from custody.
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