He launched a civil case against the PNG immigration department last year in a bid to recover the outstanding money, but the department argued Australia was responsible.
On Wednesday Justice Pauline Bre adjourned an application to make the Commonwealth of Australia and the Australian Department of Home Affairs defendants in the case.
If it is approved, it would open the door for Mr Kopyoto to pursue the Australian government for the unpaid fees…
..While the exact amount of money given to the PNG government for refugees has not been disclosed, Senator Shoebridge expects the figure to be substantial.
"What we do know from history, whether it's Manus Island or Christmas Island or Nauru … is that the so-called Pacific Solution costs hundreds of millions here, billions of dollars there," he said.