This detention facility was opened in 2001 as part of the Howard Government's Pacific Solution in 2001 it was closed in 2004.

The facility re-opened in 2012 under the Gillard Government's 'no-advantage' principle whereby asylum seekers arriving by boat face around five years in detention. The policy is meant to act as a deterrent to further boat arrivals. In the first six months of its operation, over 10,000 people arrived by boat - including more women and children than would usually be the case. The 'no-advantage' principle denies family renuion. 

Today (Nov 2013), there are reports of two unaccompanied minors detained on Manus Is. The boys are reportedly kept in isloation from the rest of the 1,200 approximate detainees. Alarmingly, the service provider contracted to provide support and education to children detained in  offshore locations, Save The Children has not had a presence on Manus Island since July 2013. 

Between Nov- Dec 2012, 34 children (along with their parents) were transferred to Manus Island from Christmas Island. Since this time around 8 children have been moved to detention in Adelaide (Inverbrackie) as their mothers have fallen pregnant (May 2013). Since Dec 2012 no more people have been transferred to Nauru or Manus Island. Processing of asylum applications has not commenced in either location. 

Who is detained on Nauru and Manus Island and who is detained on the mainland has been dubbed 'the lottery'. Asylum seekers are left wondering, there seems to be a selection of ages, nationalities and family constructs. So far no unaccompanied minors have been sent to Manus Island and no children are on Nauru (although this is the Coalition's 'preferred location to send children').

No children under the age of seven are presently detained on Manus Island due to the high risk of malaria and dangers involved in medicating young children against this (as with pregnant women). 

Four Corners program exposing the realities of the facility, 29 April 2013. 

A Public Works Inquiry was held into the construction of a permanent facility on Manus Island. A public hearing invovled four DIAC witnesses, took under two hours and found that the length of time people would spend detained in the facility was not relevant to the design considerations. ChilOut made a submission and found the process to be an insult to the taxpayer and Parliamentary procedure. Construction will commence in July 2012 for a facility intended to detain 600 people in family groups, but able to also take unaccomapnied minors or 'vulnerable people' as needed.