The human rights inquiry into the Manus Island detention centre remains on hold after it was revealed Papua New Guinea's public solicitor does not have a certificate to practice law.

The inquiry, initiated by Justice David Cannings, was set up to examine the conditions of asylum seekers at the Australian facility and whether any human rights have been breached.

But the PNG government halted it last Friday after it obtained a stay order from the supreme court.

The government is seeking leave to appeal against Justice Cannings' refusal to disqualify himself from the inquiry over allegations of bias.

The matter returned to court today and public solicitor Frazer Pitpit sought an adjournment because he did not have a practicing certificate.

Asked by the judge why he had represented asylum seekers at the inquiry without a certificate, Mr Pitpit said: "Because the court directed me to appear."

He said he could not renew his certificate because he had not been able to get his office's trust account audited, which is a requirement under PNG law.

The matter has been adjourned to Monday.

Earlier this month Justice Cannings launched the inquiry to examine conditions at the detention centre.

He held a week of hearings and also allowed a handful of journalists to join him on his second visit to the detention centre, which is normally barred to media.

The ABC's Liam Fox was among the journalists allowed into the detention centre last week.

A toilet with no running water facilities in the Delta compound. ( AAP: Eoin Blackwell )

There were several broken glass panels in one of the dining rooms as well as bullet holes in the roof of an undercover area in the Mike compound.

Asylum seekers surrounded the journalists for much of the visit, chanting "Please help us" and "We want freedom".

The dormitories were tightly packed and some of the toilet and shower blocks were filthy.

One of the more confronting images witnessed by media was a plaque on one of the fences requesting that all security guards carry a Hoffman knife.

Members of the media were told that the knives were used to cut down people who tried to hang themselves.