Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has taken a swipe at neighbours New Zealand and Papua New Guinea for trying to organise a transfer of asylum-seekers currently in limbo on the island, warning both countries that any deal could harm their diplomatic relationships with Australia.

Rather than spouting off about the remote possibility a one-off arrangement involving, say, 150 people might prompt the people smugglers to start touting Australia as a destination again, Mr Dutton would be wise to consider his options.

How else will he get Australia out of this mess? And why is an agreement between PNG and New Zealand any more likely to spark a new influx of boat-borne refugees than the deal with the US that has, so far, sent about 50 detainees off to the land of the brave and the free?

Everything that has been done to de-escalate the looming humanitarian disaster on Manus so far just hasn't worked. Recent actions have, if anything, made matters worse.

A case in point was the tediously predictable, and dangerously short-sighted, decision to cut off essential services at the now closed detention centre which 370 men are refusing to leave.

That, if anything, made the occupants even more determined and drew attention to the inept way in which the transition to the new, and as yet unfinished, accommodation had been handled.

Then, after the toilets clogged up and the refugees had to dig wells in the exercise yard for water, Immigration officials accused them of trashing the facility.

A pragmatist would be advising the government to ditch its hardline rhetoric in favour of putting an end to a tragic episode that has brought Australia into disrepute. There is a partial solution on offer that requires little if any involvement by Australia, other than to withdraw its opposition to the plan.

It could be argued that just as PNG did this country's then Labor government a huge favour by agreeing to the reopening of Manus in 2012, NZ would be doing the Turnbull Government a favour by offering at least some of the men a permanent home. Given the parlous state of the current parliament and the sinking opinion polls, the Manus Island situation is one issue the Turnbull government does not need dragging on as the next federal election draws nearer.

Given the bridge building that must have taken place following Jacinta Ardern's recent election as New Zealand's prime minister after Julie Bishop's ill-considered comments, Mr Dutton must realise making empty threats against our cousins across the Tasman is not a good look.

The same goes for PNG. That is also a long standing international relationship of great importance to this country.

It is time for Mr Dutton to step back and allow this issue to quietly resolve itself in the most humane possible manner. It is only then the suffering of these unfortunate victims of persecution will finally cease.