Decision

The hospital confirmed the decision and said the move would take place “within the next 24 hours”.

Refugee advocates welcomed Dutton’s announcement, hailing it as a victory for their campaign against the deportations to Nauru of Asha and 266 other asylumseekers also in Australia for medical care.

“A week ago we had to file an urgent case in the highest court in the country to stop the government from secretively deporting this baby to Nauru,” the Human Rights Law Centre’s Daniel Webb said in a statement.

“Now the family is being released into the community. It’s a massive turn-around.”

Annastacia Palaszczuk, Labor Premier of Queensland, the state in which the hospital is located, said Dutton’s decision was “too slow and lacked empathy” as she renewed her offer to house asylumseekers facing removal in the community.

Dutton said if the refugee claims of Asha and her parents were rejected, they would be sent back to their home country or to Nauru.

“If people are suggesting to you there has been a change in the policy or we are going to allow special treatment in baby Asha’s case, then that is not the case,” he added.

There have been numerous protests against the deportations under the #LetThemStay campaign, with Australian church leaders also vowing to defy the government’s immigration rules, offering sanctuary to the asylum-seekers.