Ex-Manus detainees start to get $70m compo

About 1700 former Manus Island detainees will start receiving their share of a $70 million compensation settlement over coming days.

Slater and Gordon principal lawyer Andrew Baker says the payments will begin on Friday and the majority of the funds should be paid to members of the class action group by the end of the year.

"The uncertainty and looming relocation issues that have faced a number of group members this year required a faster distribution time frame than ever before faced by a class action of this kind and size," Mr Baker said on Thursday.

The individuals stand to receive anything from a few thousand dollars to close to $100,000 under Australia's largest human rights class action settlement, with most of the compensation for false imprisonment following a PNG court ruling.

Hundreds of men have been moved, some forcibly, from the now-closed offshore immigration detention centre to alternative accommodation sites in Papua New Guinea.

New Zealand's offer to take 150 refugees from Manus Island has been repeatedly rejected by the Turnbull government over concerns it might provide a back door into Australia.

The class action, launched by Slater and Gordon three years ago, was settled by the Australian government and centre operators in June without any admission of liability.

Many of the group members are now spread around the world.

Mr Baker said once the payments start to be issued on Friday, the 1698 detainees who registered to participate in the $70 million settlement scheme should receive their funds in the following days and weeks.

He said further batches of payments will be distributed over coming weeks, noting regulatory compliance for some kinds of international transactions takes additional time.