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Nauru inquiry should look at whether abuse reports were investigated – Labor Nauru inquiry should look at whether abuse reports were investigated – Labor
(10 days later)
Labor has said a parliamentary inquiry into allegations of sexual assault and child abuse inside Australia’s detention centre on Nauru should focus on why the allegations were made in the first place and whether they were investigated and acted upon.Labor has said a parliamentary inquiry into allegations of sexual assault and child abuse inside Australia’s detention centre on Nauru should focus on why the allegations were made in the first place and whether they were investigated and acted upon.
Shayne Neumann, the shadow minister for immigration, said on Sunday that Labor had not yet developed terms of reference for the inquiry but he planned to speak to crossbenchers about it this week.Shayne Neumann, the shadow minister for immigration, said on Sunday that Labor had not yet developed terms of reference for the inquiry but he planned to speak to crossbenchers about it this week.
Labor is pushing for a parliamentary inquiry into allegations of sexual assault and child abuse in Nauru’s detention centre following the Guardian’s publication of more than 2,000 leaked incident report from inside the immigration regime.Labor is pushing for a parliamentary inquiry into allegations of sexual assault and child abuse in Nauru’s detention centre following the Guardian’s publication of more than 2,000 leaked incident report from inside the immigration regime.
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Neumann was critical of Coalition ministers who have dismissed the allegations contained in the Nauru files as being out of date.Neumann was critical of Coalition ministers who have dismissed the allegations contained in the Nauru files as being out of date.
“Many of these allegations happened last year. Last year. You’d think the way the government is speaking it happened 40 or 50 years ago,” he said.“Many of these allegations happened last year. Last year. You’d think the way the government is speaking it happened 40 or 50 years ago,” he said.
He said the Senate inquiry’s terms of reference should include:He said the Senate inquiry’s terms of reference should include:
Neumann also said there were enough senators of “good will” who would support the inquiry, so he was “hopeful that it will get up”. He planned to speak to them this week.Neumann also said there were enough senators of “good will” who would support the inquiry, so he was “hopeful that it will get up”. He planned to speak to them this week.
“We think this is an expeditious way and an appropriate way to deal with these allegations, along with an independent children’s advocate, which we urge the government to adopt,” he told Sky News on Sunday.“We think this is an expeditious way and an appropriate way to deal with these allegations, along with an independent children’s advocate, which we urge the government to adopt,” he told Sky News on Sunday.
“And also to support the private member’s bill, which we propose to reintroduce in this parliament, for mandatory reporting in relation to child abuse and other matters concerning minors, both offshore and onshore as well.”“And also to support the private member’s bill, which we propose to reintroduce in this parliament, for mandatory reporting in relation to child abuse and other matters concerning minors, both offshore and onshore as well.”
The Greens would like to go a step further, saying the allegations in the Nauru files warrant a royal commission.The Greens would like to go a step further, saying the allegations in the Nauru files warrant a royal commission.
But the Liberal senator Linda Reynolds said on Sunday that she was sceptical of the call from Labor and the Greens for an inquiry.But the Liberal senator Linda Reynolds said on Sunday that she was sceptical of the call from Labor and the Greens for an inquiry.
“Of course the Labor party is calling for another inquiry. It’s what they always do when they want to divert away from other issues,” she told Sky News.“Of course the Labor party is calling for another inquiry. It’s what they always do when they want to divert away from other issues,” she told Sky News.
“I personally sat in, and participated in, an inquiry on this exact same matter last year, and I was utterly appalled by the behaviour of my Labor and Greens colleagues on that inquiry.“I personally sat in, and participated in, an inquiry on this exact same matter last year, and I was utterly appalled by the behaviour of my Labor and Greens colleagues on that inquiry.
Related: Nauru files show Wilson Security staff regularly downgraded reports of abuse
“We had so many old and untested allegations which just fell apart on inquiry … and the Labor party in particular spent more time attacking me personally to the point where I had to defend my humanity rather than focusing on the facts,” she said.“We had so many old and untested allegations which just fell apart on inquiry … and the Labor party in particular spent more time attacking me personally to the point where I had to defend my humanity rather than focusing on the facts,” she said.
“The government will of course take all of these issues very seriously but we also have to look at the motivation of Labor and the Greens for bringing this up yet again.”“The government will of course take all of these issues very seriously but we also have to look at the motivation of Labor and the Greens for bringing this up yet again.”
Labor needs the support of nine Greens senators and four out of 11 crossbenchers for the inquiry to get through the Senate. Nick Xenophon’s team of three senators and the Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm are already likely supporters.Labor needs the support of nine Greens senators and four out of 11 crossbenchers for the inquiry to get through the Senate. Nick Xenophon’s team of three senators and the Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm are already likely supporters.