Children on Nauru weighing on Australians: Poll

Pressure is mounting on the Australian government, from both within parliament and from the public, to focus on the plight of children in detention on Nauru.

A new poll shows most Australians want the government to accept an offer from New Zealand to resettle the detainees on Nauru. The YouGov Galaxy poll commissioned by News Corp Australia reveals 79 per cent of people want children and their families transferred off the island. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has distanced himself from the deal since flagging it as a possibility ahead of the Wentworth by-election.

The draft laws of the deal place a lifetime ban on resettled asylum seekers being allowed to enter Australia, which Labor frontbencher Brendan O’Connor says is an “overreaction”. “But right now the lives of people hang in the balance and we need to get people out of that detention centre,” he told Sky News on Sunday.

“And if that is the offer on the table then certainly Labor is going to seriously consider that.”

Labor would consider “case-by-case” permanent resettling of asylum seekers who are in Australia for medical treatment, he added.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale has vowed to do all he can to ensure children on the island are brought to Australia for medical care.

Mr Morrison has said the move would result in more refugees attempting to reach the nation by boat, leading to additional children in detention.