Medical treatment for people on Manus and Nauru

Doctors have been incredibly clear. If sick people on Manus and Nauru aren’t transferred to Australian hospitals, another life will be lost.

A “coalition of consciousness” from crossbenchers, The Greens and the Australian Labor Party has made history by passing legislation to provide sick refugees and people seeking asylum the medical treatment they need.

People must not be denied treatment a second longer
Twelve people have died in offshore processing. Doctors across Australia have been incredibly clear; if people are not transferred to Australian hospitals we will lose a life. After being detained in offshore processing for close to six years, men, women and children have been denied doctors and appropriate medical care for complex yet treatable medical conditions.

The vast majority of those in offshore processing are now critically sick with exasperated pain and rapidly deteriorating physical and psychological health. Detained for close to six years under six Prime Ministers, the Australian government’s offshore processing policy has failed.

A historic win for the Australian Parliament 

Amendments to the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill ensures doctors, not politicians, determine when and how people on Manus and Nauru receive much needed medical treatment to prevent permanent damage and save lives.

It strikes a fair balance between critical medical need while enabling fair and reasonable checks and balances for transparency and security. Advocacy Director Jana Favero explains the MedEvac Bill and what it means for the health and safety of people seeking asylum.

How we got here

Together in our thousands, we called our political leaders to stay strong and back the bill. Despite significant political tactics from the Coalition Government, crossbench MPs, the Greens and the Australian Labor Party stood strong to pass the bill. ASRC CEO Kon Karapanagiotidis shares how we got there.

This win belongs to you, to us, to Behrouz and Aziz and all of the men, women and children who have survived offshore processing.

What’s next 
The legislation now needs to be implemented as swiftly as possible. Keep up to date with political developments as this evolves. Please also pledge to campaign with us this federal election as we take national action to change the policy on asylum.