As the Manus Island stand-off enters its fifth day, pressure is mounting on Malcolm Turnbull to accept a long-standing New Zealand offer to resettle 150 refugees.
The prime minister's having his first sit down with New Zealand's newly-elected leader Jacinda Ardern in Sydney on Sunday.
Some 600 asylum seekers and refugees have barricaded themselves inside the mothballed complex, which officially closed on Tuesday, fearful they will be attacked if they move to alternative unfenced accommodation.
Food, medication and drinking water has run out and the group have been digging holes to find water.
Ms Ardern this week reiterated the NZ offer, first made under John Key's government to the Gillard government in 2013 and rejected many times since.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten U-turned on Labor's stance on Friday, saying the plan had similarities to the US resettlement deal to take 1250 people.
"(The prime minister) should have the conversation and see if we can make this proposal work," Mr Shorten said.
"If it's not a viable option, then Turnbull should explain why. Doing nothing is not an option."
Mr Turnbull has previously stated it would be a marketing opportunity for people smugglers.
Meanwhile, Ms Ardern will go in to bat for NZ university students who may face a fee hike if the Turnbull government passes its higher education reforms, which are currently stalled in the Senate.
Kiwi students will be denied commonwealth subsides and will have to pay full international student fees from next year.
During the election campaign, Ms Ardern warned there could be retaliation if the measure goes ahead.
The pair is likely to also discuss efforts to revive the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, which is still on life support after America withdrew.
The remaining 11 countries are pushing ahead but Ms Ardern is keen to dump the controversial investor-state dispute settlement clauses that allow foreign investors to sue governments. That move is not supported by Japan.
Other topics on the agenda include the fate of 178 New Zealanders in limbo in Australian immigration detention centres, after their visas were cancelled because of convictions.
