PNG PM flies in with Rudd aid: 3000 places. Stand by for Kevin Rudd's PNG boat people announcement this afternoon or, latest, tomorrow morning. That's when the PNG Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, will be in Brisbane. O'Neill promises to take up to 3000 boat people - a substantial number: KEVIN Rudd will today announce a deal with Papua New Guinea to increase the capacity of the Manus Island detention centre to house up to 3000 people, as part of Labor's efforts to crack down on people-smuggling. Manus is already supposed to take 600, but has fewer than half that: There are currently 215 asylum seekers housed on Manus" Lombrum naval base. The man who closed the Pacific Solution will now preside over the biggest version of it. But meanwhile: CUSTOMS and West Australian police are on the hunt for an asylum-seeker boat close to the Pilbara coast after it passed an oil and gas floating platform overnight. Actually, not another 3000 but 2400: There is currently capacity for 600, but the PM will announce this to be expanded to 3000, and Manus to be the primary regional centre for the whole of the Pacific. No word yet on what Rudd has paid for these extra places: Manus Island MP Ronnie Knight said he was informed of the plan by PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill on Friday morning... My terms are I want the Royal Australian Navy to take over Lombrum Naval Base and protect my waters from illegal fishing. I also want the Momote airport expanded and made international. Thanks to reader The Watcher.