PETER Dutton is refusing calls to bring asylum seekers on Manus Island to Australia despite reports about 600 men have barricaded themselves inside a detention facility that was set to close at 5pm today local time.

The Immigration Minister has rejected claims that the men fear for their lives, as reports surfaced that locals armed with machetes were looting the facility.

“The Coalition Government has had a clear and consistent policy since coming to office; no-one who attempts to enter Australia illegally by boat will ever settle here,” Minister Dutton said.

“Six hundred men at the Manus Regional Processing Centre in Papua New Guinea who attempted to enter Australia illegally via people smuggler’s boats — now aided and abetted by so called ‘advocates’ and the Greens — are trying to force a change to that policy.

“They will not.”

Reports surfaced this afternoon of Manus Island locals armed with machetes allegedly looting the immigration detention centre ahead of its closure.

Sudanese refugee Abdul Mohammad says the asylum seekers and refugees remaining in the Papua New Guinea centre fear for their lives.

“Some of the locals have come inside and are stealing boxes, fire alarms, the fans, some of them are taking air conditioners,” he told AAP from Manus Island.

A number of men detained in the facility, who are refusing to leave ahead of its closure tonight, have told Fairfax Media locals are “taking whatever they can”.

He compared it to a war zone.

“It is like a movie,” he said.

“When I see this, I ask myself ‘Wow, this is Australia, this really happens to you in Australia’.”

Another man said locals had threatened them.

“When we approached them they started swearing [at] us and using abusive words. We care about our safety, so we just said ‘Just take whatever you want,” he told Fairfax media.

Detainee Behrouz Boochani has also sent out an SOS call on social media saying the men are expecting to be attacked by the PNG navy.

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‘BREATHTAKING DUPLICITY’

Mr Dutton said the “illegal maritime arrivals” who were refusing to leave the centre had been aware since May that the PNG authorities would close facility today.

“All have been informed for a considerable period of time that there is safe and secure alternate accommodation where health and other services will be maintained,” he said.

“They claim to fear for their safety if they leave the RPC – but held no such fears for a long period of time as around 200 of them each and every day travelled to and from Lorengau township, some staying in the town for extended periods of time.”

Mr Dutton accused Green’s senator Nick McKim and activist groups of “subterfuge” for long criticising living conditions at the centre.

“Senator McKim’s duplicity is breathtaking,” he said.

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“He sat through Senate Estimates hearings a week ago where officials from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection provided information in great detail about the facilities and services that would continue to be provided on Manus Island, but chooses to ignore that factual information in favour of inaccurate and incorrect claims – it would seem – to incite trouble.

“Senator McKim claims to care for these men, but continues to provide them with false information and uses them for cheap political stunts to build his public profile.”

PNG’s processing of these IMAs has been completed and there are clear pathways ahead of them, Mr Durron said.

Detainees found to be refugees have been told to relocate to the East Lorengau Refugee Transit Centre or West Lorengau House.

Those found not to be refugees were advised relocate to Hillside Haus.

“These people sought to subvert Australia’s laws by paying people smugglers to bring them illegally to Australia by boat – none will ever resettle here,” he said.

All staff have now left the property, according to Greens senator Nick McKim.

Water has also been disconnected.

Senator McKim, who is on Manus for the closure, has now been given permission to visit the facility and will arrive there shortly.

‘COMBUSTIBLE’ SITUATION ON MANUS ISLAND

Earlier, he released a statement saying he had no doubt the situation was a humanitarian crisis.

“The reason these men are refusing to leave the detention centre, despite having no access to water in the soaring heat, is the very real threat of violence facing them if they do,” he said.

“The situation here is becoming more combustible every minute.”

Greens leader Richard Di Natale urged Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to bring the men to Australia immediately.

“We are watching this crisis develop in slow motion and in full view of the global community,” Senator Di Natale said.

“This government will be responsible if things escalate and people are hurt or more lives are lost.”

Labor has called on the government to do what it can immediately to de-escalate tensions on Manus Island ahead of the centre’s imminent closure.

“The Turnbull Government has known about the closure of Manus Island RPC for more than six months but has been unclear and unwilling to explain how refugees will continue to have their basic human needs met – including access to security, health and welfare services,” Labor Immigration spokesman Shayne Neumann said.

“It is incumbent on Turnbull Government to do what they can to de-escalate tensions on Manus Island and work with PNG authorities to ensure the safety of refugees, staff and locals.”

Transferring refugees from one centre to another was not a long term solution, Mr Neumann said.

“These people urgently need viable third country resettlement options,” he said.

“Peter Dutton must make clear what the Turnbull Government’s plans are for eligible refugees who are not resettled as part of Australia’s agreement with the United States and immediately secure other third country resettlement options.”

The news comes as Manus Island detainees have launched an eleventh-hour legal bid to prevent the closure of Australia’s offshore immigration centre, citing humanitarian concerns as utilities are cut off.

Hundreds of refugees and asylum seekers are refusing to leave the camp at the Lombrum Navy Base in Papua New Guinea for fear of their safety outside. Food packs were last distributed on Sunday night and detainees are using bins and other objects to catch rain water, with running water and power to be cut off on Tuesday evening.

Lawyers for the roughly 600 men in detention lodged a Supreme Court application in PNG on Tuesday, arguing the group’s constitutionally protected human rights were being breached by the removal of basic services.

Detainees fear they will not be safe at three other facilities they are meant to relocate to around the island’s main town of Lorengau, after locals threatened to use violence to stop them from moving.

Extra PNG police and defence forces have been flown into Manus ahead of the closure deadline.

Local media have reported PNG Immigration Minister Petrus Thomas as saying the detainees won’t be forced to leave the detention centre.

‘REAL’ CONCERN OVER PNG POLICE

But Amnesty International’s Kate Schuetze, who is on Manus Island to observe the closure, said PNG police and defence forces had a chequered history of violence against refugees.

Ms Schuetze pointed to the Good Friday shooting, when nine people were injured after PNG military personnel opened fire on the Manus Island centre.

“We have to exercise a degree of caution today and look beyond what the PNG government says and to what they’re actually doing on the ground,” Ms Schuetze told AAP on Tuesday.

“There is a real concern that they’ve got a strong presence on the ground, that they’re heavily armed here, and that’s building the fear of asylum seekers and refugees as to what may happen.” Overnight, detainees secured damaged perimeter fencing around the compound as they prepared to barricade themselves inside.

As they did, PNG immigration officials plastered notices up around the centre urging detainees to leave before utilities were cut off and the site was returned to PNG defence forces.

“Move to alternative accommodation now,” the notice read.

“Anyone choosing to remain here will be liable for removal from an active PNG military base.” However, two-of-the-three alternative centres earmarked for detainees are still not fenced or guarded.

Special Minister of State Scott Ryan said the government’s first priority was blocking anyone who arrived “illegally” from settling in Australia. “These people were advised in May that this centre would be closed,” Senator Ryan told Sky News.

“I also note that some of the people and activists complaining about being moved from Manus Island were also people complaining about the facility there.” PNG’s government on Monday warned Australia it would take no responsibility for “non-refugees” and people who refused to settle in PNG, saying they were the obligation of the Australian government.

The Lombrum centre was forced to close after the PNG Supreme Court ruled in April 2016 that Australia’s detention of refugees and asylum seekers there was illegal and unconstitutional.

Six detainees have died on Manus Island — including one who was murdered — since the offshore detention centre was reopened in 2012.

World Vision chief advocate Tim Costello urged the government to evacuate detainees to Australia, warning of further bloodshed.