Canberra, Oct 30 (IANS): Australia is solely responsible for refugees who do not want to resettle in Papua New Guinea (PNG) when its detention centre in Manus Island closes, the PNG government has announced.

Australia has held asylum seekers on PNG's Manus Island since 2012. The camp is scheduled to close on Tuesday after a local court ruled it was unconstitutional to detain people there, reports the BBC.

In a statement late Sunday, PNG Immigration Minister Petrus Thomas said the refugees will not be forced to stay in the nation against their will while those without refugee status cannot stay either.

Thomas said "these two cohorts remain the responsibility of Australia to pursue third-country options and liaise with respective governments of the non-refugees for their voluntary or involuntary return.

"There must be a review of the arrangement to clarify these international obligations and officials will be discussing the details of a revised agreement in the next few days," the BBC quoted the minister as saying.

However, Canberra has consistently said that none will be transferred to Australia.

Australia controversially holds refugees and asylum seekers who arrive by boat in centres on PNG's Manus Island and the Pacific nation of Nauru, arguing that it prevents deaths at sea and discourages people smugglers.

Refugees at the centre can apply for permanent resettlement in PNG, apply to live in the US or Cambodia, or request a transfer to Australia's other offshore detention centre in the Pacific nation of Nauru.

Human Rights Watch has estimated about 770 men -- most of whom have been classified as refugees -- remain on Manus Island. It says a majority do not want to stay in PNG.

It said the conditions in PNG and Nauru are cramped and inadequate, cause widespread psychological harm, and expose asylum seekers to dangers including physical and sexual assaults.