ASRC calls on Prime Minister Morrison to take responsibility for people offshore

Media Release

4 December 2019

ASRC calls on Prime Minister Morrison to take responsibility for people offshore

The repeal of the Medevac laws means that doctors are no longer in charge of medical decisions for sick people held in offshore processing.

The ASRC expresses serious worry and sadness at this government’s secretive and vindictive repeal of Medevac.

Prime Minister Morrison and Minister Dutton are solely responsible for the medical care of sick refugees and for the future of 535 people they have detained offshore for six years.

Most (86%) of Medevac transfers occurred under Minister Peter Dutton’s approval.

The Minister has conceded that there are serious medical issues offshore and the responsibility for this crisis rests with him and the Government

We hope that Minister Dutton will not block people who have been approved for Medevac, and will transfer them so that they can access the medical treatment they need.

The majority of ordinary people in the Australian community, 5000 doctors, 12 of Australia’s peak medical bodies, the AMA, some of Australia’s most loved actors all support medical treatment for sick refugees offshore.

Today the Morrison government has shown it ignores evidence, public opinion and will endanger people’s lives for its own political agenda.

CEO Kon Karapanagiotidis said: “The ASRC’s detention advocacy team is on the phone supporting people held in offshore processing, we will continue to care for people as best we can.”

“Now that doctors are no longer in charge of medical decisions, Prime Minister Morrison and Minister Dutton must show Australians they have a plan for medical treatment for sick people and a permanent resettlement of men and women held in offshore processing.”

“We will continue to work together with our powerful movement and community of health professionals to care for people and to pressure the Morrison government to end human rights abuses of people seeking asylum and refugees,” Kon said.

Prime Minister Morrison and Minister Dutton are solely responsible for the medical care of sick refugees.

And for the future of 535 people the government detains offshore for six years and counting.

Call Dutton and Morrison’s electorate offices: https://action.asrc.org.au/call_dutton_and_morrision

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#DoctorsNotDutton