Labor to continue offshore process

PROPOSED changes to the way sick asylum seekers are transferred to Australia are designed to end the nation’s offshore processing system, according to Immigration Minister David Coleman.

But Labor – which has supported the changes – has rejected the claim, saying offshore processing is here to stay if it wins the next election.

Under reforms to medical transfers that have passed the Senate with the backing of the Opposition and crossbenchers, two specially appointed doctors could request medical transfers for offshore asylum seekers to Australia. A minister would then be required to review their case in 24 hours, and, if rejected, an independent health advice panel would review it. Despite Labor stressing the panel’s advice could still be overruled by a minister on security grounds, Mr Coleman says the laws are designed to allow every asylum seeker detained offshore to be sent to Australia. That would undermine the nation’s offshore processing system and ultimately lead to its demise, he says.

“Within weeks, it is highly likely – and that’s the advice that we’ve received – that substantially everyone who is currently on Manus and Nauru would come to Australia,” he said yesterday.

“The structure of this legislation is designed to undermine offshore processing to such a state that it no longer exists any more.”

The minister dodged questions about whether that suggests everyone in the offshore processing centres is unwell.

But Mr Coleman said the current process was effective, with doctors at offshore processing sites recommending transfers that are then considered by the Department of Home Affairs.

The Coalition also announced last week it would establish an independent health

THESE AMENDMENTS ARE ABOUT MAKING SURE SICK PEOPLE CAN RECEIVE THE MEDICAL CARE THEY NEED SHAYNE NEUMANN

panel, which could ask bureaucrats to review cases, as an extra layer of oversight.

Opposition immigration spokesman Shayne Neumann has accused Mr Coleman of being a “shrill liar”, saying Labor would never let people smugglers back in business by giving way on offshore processing.

“We will continue strong border-protection measures including offshore processing, turnbacks when safe to do so and regional resettlement,” he said yesterday. “These amendments are about making sure sick people in regional processing facilities can receive the medical care they need.”