Greens senator Nick McKim has arrived back in Australia after being deported from Papua New Guinea, with immigration authorities claiming he "demanded entry" to an asylum seeker camp on Manus Island.
Senator McKim, who travelled to PNG to mark the sixth anniversary since Australia reinstated offshore detention for asylum seekers arriving by boat, said he had sought entry to the East Lorengau camp to inspect conditions when his passport was temporarily confiscated by immigration authorities.
He was served with a deportation notice on Thursday for trying to circumvent proper processes for visiting the refugee accommodation.
In a statement released on Friday, PNG Chief Migration Officer Solomon Kantha said Senator McKim "failed to request access to the centre through the appropriate channels" and "simply attended the gates and demanded entry" — a claim he denies.
"I just don't accept their version of events," Mr McKim said upon returning to Australia.
"They said I demanded to be let in, I did no such thing. They said I didn't make a formal request, in fact I did make a formal request.
"I walked on a public road up to the gates and while standing on a public road, I respectfully and politely asked whether I could come in."
Senator McKim, who was travelling with journalist Behrouz Boochani, a refugee on Manus Island, said he had emailed "the appropriate officer" with his request prior to arriving in PNG.
"I've done nothing wrong here," he said.
"Again, this is about denying me, it's about denying journalists or anyone else who wants to see the conditions for refugees."
Mr Kantha said immigration authorities welcomed "productive and respectful engagement on the management of persons in our care", but that Senator McKim had demonstrated "no interest in a productive dialogue".
.jpg?w=600)
