Timeline of confrontation

The document confirms reports the trouble began when asylum seekers, referred to as residents, were playing soccer on a nearby field.

The Manus Regional Processing Centre is located within the PNG Naval base.

Local children wanted to use the soccer pitch — but "using profanities" the residents "told them to go away".

The father of one of the children, a PNG Navy officer, approached the residents and told them to leave, but they refused and, according to the report, "commenced assaulting the Navy member. This caused other Navy personnel to come to his assistance".

'Rocks and punches thrown'

Fighting escalated, rocks and punches were thrown and the residents fled to the Regional Processing Centre.

The report said two groups of Navy personnel then gathered outside a gate to the detention centre — those involved in the soccer pitch dispute and a second group.

"Members in Group 2 returned and armed with lengths of bamboo and other assorted weapons and commenced assaulting staff and a member from PNGICSA [PNG Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority]," the report said.