Posters went up on Tuesday at the centre announcing the offer of a transfer, which is voluntary.
Ian Rintoul from the Refugee Action Coalition told SBS News he didn’t believe many of the asylum seekers on Manus would be interested in the transfer.
“No one is interested in going to Nauru, Nauru has no prospects for resettlement, they [the Australian government] have said that quite bluntly,” Mr Rintoul said.
The Manus Island detention centre is due to close on October 30 and the government is yet to announce what will happen to the approximately 750 asylum seekers still detained there.
In September last year the Australian government signed a deal with the United States for the US to resettle refugees from Manus Island and Nauru.
The number of refugees the US would take was not specified and so far only 54 refugees have been resettled.
Mr Rintoul said roughly two thirds of the men on Manus Island had been interviewed by US officials and hence may be eligible for the Nauru transfer offer.
Posters went up yesterday with details of the offer of a transfer. Source: Human Rights Law Centre
“It is a clear indication that the Australian government itself has no confidence in the US deal providing any outcomes for the people on Manus,” he said.
In a statement to SBS News the Department of Immigration and Border Protection said they continued to work with both the Papua New Guinea governments and the government of Nauru to ensure appropriate arrangements for the asylum seekers.
“The Government of Nauru has agreed to receive PNG-determined refugees in Nauru to await third country resettlement. Relocation is voluntary; no one will be forced to move to Nauru,” a spokeswoman said.
Iranian asylum seeker Amir Taghinia told the ABC there was no interest in moving to Nauru amongst the asylum seekers on Manus.
"We do not want to move there because this is another detention centre, this is another island prison,” he said.
Related reading
Bishop contradicts Dutton over 'economic refugees' comment
