Australia asylum policy challenged

Papua New Guinea court to hear claims that a processing centre on one of its islands is illegal.

Australia’s controverisal asylum policy is facing a critical legal challenge.

A court in Papua New Guinea will hear claims that a processing centre on one of its islands is illegal.

If successful, the case could undermine Australia’s bid to stop asylum seekers from heading to its shores. Setting up off-shore processing centres, such as the one on Manus Island whose legal status is being questioned, is central to Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s policy to combat excessive immigration.

Al Jazeera’s Andrew Thomas reports from Sydney.

Source: Al Jazeera