Many Australian’s ‘ashamed’

AUSTRALIA – Many Australians are deeply ashamed of how their government treats asylum seekers, a social agency says.

Catholic Social Services Australia made the observation following its submission to the Senate Inquiry on serious allegations of abuse, self-harm and neglect of asylum seekers detained on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island and Nauru.

In its submission, the agency called for detainees to be returned to Australia, and for independent oversight of children in detention.

The agency’s chief executive, Marcelle Mogg, said in the past Australia had welcomed asylum seekers and benefited from their contribution to society.

“Many Australians have long opposed Australia’s response to asylum seekers and refugees that has been prevalent in the last 15 years.

“We are deeply ashamed of the way that successive Australian governments have responded to the global challenge of asylum seekers and refugees.”

The latest data from the Australian department of Immigration and Border Protection shows 410 people are detained on Nauru and 823 on Manus Island.

Meanwhile, the Australian Medical Association is calling for independent oversight of healthcare provided to detainees on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island and Nauru.

The association made the call in its submission to the Senate inquiry on serious allegations of abuse, self-harm and neglect of asylum seekers detained offshore by Australia.

In the submission, the association repeated its call for the release of all children from detention as well as citing examples of detainees not receiving adequate healthcare for sickness, injuries sustained from physical assault, and mental disorder following sexual assault.

The association’s vice president Dr Tony Bartone said the detainees should receive the same level of healthcare as any Australian citizen.

“The examples in the submission highlight failings or lack of appropriate scaling up or referral on of medical care that was required in those instances. Care that was not available in the offshore facilities or the treatment centres nominated.”

Bartone said if the Senate inquiry finds adequate healthcare is not being provided to detainees the Australian government should review its offshore detention policy.

- RNZI