Scott Morrison denies Amnesty report findings on Manus island detention
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Version 0 of 1. Scott Morrison has denied key findings in a damning report produced by Amnesty International about offshore processing on Manus island, including observations that some asylum seekers were given limited access to drinking water and that gay asylum seekers would be reported to the police. At the weekly Operation Sovereign Borders press conference, the immigration and border protection minister said he would be reviewing elements of the Amnesty report and seeking verification on certain parts of it. The report says conditions for asylum seekers on Manus are tantamount to torture. The Amnesty report cited an interview with Renate Croker, the most senior Australian government immigration official on Manus, in which she said that if any homosexual relations occurred they would automatically be reported to the local police. Morrison said this was not the policy of the government but added all asylum seekers on Manus were provided with “clear advice” on “relevant laws” in Papua New Guinea. Homosexuality is illegal in PNG and can carry a 14-year sentence. Morrison was asked repeatedly by Guardian Australia if the “relevant laws” included those relating to homosexuality but he declined to go into detail, adding: “In these press conferences you get to ask the questions, you don’t get to give the responses as well.” Morrison added that the department was “unaware of any claims or declarations of homosexuality or of any reports of homosexuality being investigated by the police at the centre”. The minister also denied observations in the report that asylum seekers in certain sections of the centre were only given access to 500ml of drinking water a day, well below the required minimum. “There is no restrictions on the amount of water that people can receive on Manus,” Morrison said. The minister confirmed a peaceful protest involving 100 asylum seekers on Manus occurred on Thursday evening following the publication of the Amnesty report. The protest lasted an hour and 30 minutes and asylum seekers asked questions of detention centre staff relating to the report. Morrison also confirmed there were now 14 pregnant women on Nauru. During the briefing, Operation Sovereign Borders commander Angus Campbell confirmed one boat carrying three asylum seekers and two crew had arrived in the past week. He said he had seen reports that people smugglers were promoting rumours that the government had weakened its hardline stance on boat arrivals. In a bizarre moment, Campbell turned to Morrison and asked: "Minister, is the government considering now or in the future a change to Australia's border security policies regarding illegal maritime arrivals?" To which Morrison replied: "Absolutely not. The government would only be strengthening policies, General." Campbell confirmed reports earlier in the week that a boat carrying 30 people (most of whom are understood to be asylum seekers) had sunk off the coast of Java, with Indonesian search and rescue authorities rescuing 27 people. Two on the boat died and another remains in hospital in a serious condition. Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |