The Turnbull government's planned closure of the Manus Island immigration centre could cost lives, Australian Greens senator Nick McKim says.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has confirmed the progressive closure of the centre ahead of the complete shut down on October 31, with asylum seekers given the option to settle in Papua New Guinea, transfer to a country other than Australia, or return to their country of origin.
"The potential here is that some detainees may die as a result of the announcement ... Papua New Guinea is not a safe place for these detainees," Senator McKim told reporters in Hobart on Tuesday.