A man has been killed while in the care of the Australian government. Another lies with a fractured skull, countless others have been injured. The men on Manus Island are in danger, and the Minister for Immigration claims his policies are successful and in no need of change.

The government cannot guarantee the safety of people in its care on Manus Island. The responsible course of action is for the centre to be closed. The riots also raise questions about safety on Nauru and Christmas Island.

Precisely what has happened, we do not know. The government's commitment to secrecy should be a concern for everyone. Secrecy is completely inadequate for democracy but totally appropriate for tyranny. If the minister will not inform the public, then we are within our right to assume the worst. No free and fair nation operates with secrecy as a blanket policy position. Democracies are based on the foundation of public scrutiny and open government.

The events on Manus Island give rise to many questions the public have a right to know. What happened? Did guards beat asylum seekers? Did local people charge the compounds and attack asylum seekers? Where did the man die? Who killed him? Did PNG police fire on asylum seekers? Did guards and staff flee? When was the minister informed? There are dozens more and they cannot be fully answered unless there is an independent inquiry.

The initial announcement of an investigation, only by PNG police, and a departmental inquiry is woefully inadequate. These are vested parties investigating themselves. It's clear PNG police have fired shots and asylum seekers have been placed in danger. The department seems concerned only with maintaining the information blackout, with reports that staff have been forbidden to speak about the events, even to family. These are the actions of a government intent on hiding the truth from its people. A full independent inquiry is the only responsible option.