Image: ABC News, Kristian Silva
An asylum seeker baby currently staying at a hospital in Brisbane will be moved to community detention, but could still end up being returned to Nauru, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton says.
One-year-old Asha remains at Brisbane’s Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital after doctors refused to release her until a safe home was found.
Mr Dutton said immigration officials had reached an agreement with doctors that Asha and her family would be transferred to community detention in Brisbane, but that they would receive no special treatment and may end up back in Nauru if they were not deemed to be legitimate refugees.
The child’s fate has been the focal point of a 10-day protest outside the hospital, with dozens of protesters continuing to rally outside the building’s entrance today.
“The advice I have received is the doctors from the hospital have said the baby’s treatment has concluded and they would be happy for the baby to go out into community detention,” Mr Dutton said.
“That’s what we have proposed all along but at some point, if people have matters finalised in Australia, they will be returning to Nauru.”
Mr Dutton said the Asha case had been “hijacked” by refugee advocates and that the Government’s position was unchanged.
“I’m not sure if they are interested in the best interests of the child. I am. I want to look at each case, people can go into community detention – I have said to you before I want to get the number of children in detention down to zero.”
Mr Dutton said he would not comment on precisely how soon Asha would be moved.
“But, as I say, I’m advised there has been agreement from the doctors in relation to the movement of the baby and when it’s appropriate to do so, sooner than later, that’ll take place.”
Mr Dutton was also asked to comment on why he thought the doctors had agreed to Asha’s move when the Government’s immigration policy was unchanged.
“That’s a question for them, but I understand there are some pressures at the hospital in terms of bed space and the rest of it, but that is an issue for the Queensland Government.”
Top Comments
They've confirmed that she WILL be sent back to Nauru, just like any other family who has had treatment in Australia, and been released to community detention in the short-term until things are resolved. So why are people carrying on as if this is a big "win" and the family will stay permanently?
The protests and disruption at the children's hospital (inappropriate place to carry on like that) have changed nothing. All it's done is given this family, and others, false hope which is cruel. It's actually heartbreaking to think this family is now probably feeling that they have a chance of settling here, when it's not the case.
Because a little girl is getting the medical care that she needs, I think that's a win.
I think the doctors and nurses behind this whole saga should be ashamed of themselves. They used the little girl and her mother as pawns in a game with a Government policy they knew they wouldn't win. I feel very sorry for the child's mother who no doubt, was feeling quite hopeful with the level of protests outside of the hospital. If the Govt had let the family stay in Australia (and one part of me thought they should), how does the Govt justify keeping the other people on Manus and Nauru? The Greens 'Safe Pathways' policy is a euphanism for an open border immigration policy, but this hasn't worked out so well for Europe.
she was getting that medical care already. She was medically fit for discharge. They were protesting her return to Nauru. Which will happen the minute the protesters start cracking up about the next thing.
The doctors were concerned that she won't get the ongoing care she needs on Nauru.
Has anyone asked or found out how Asha was burned?
This is huge part of the problem, what happens on Nauru stays on Nauru. It is bad enough that we are keeping people in indefinite detention, but there is also no transparency, no accountability and no one to make sure they are being treated in an humane fashion. They won't let journalists out there at all. This government has hidden these people away and whenever anyone voices their concern, we (the public) are supposed to write them off as loony lefties. They are threatening medical professionals with criminal charges if they dare talk about what they have seen and yet they claim to be the champions of freedom of speech. They are encouraging Australians to hate and fear these people (even those under 5) because they have dared to seek a better life in our country. It is a disgrace!
Chris Kenny from The Australian visited and reported from Nauru around October last year. His story make for interesting reading.
He's the only one who has been allowed - not exactly 'open & transparent', considering his employer is a Coalition cheerleader.
A right wing, former Liberal staffer was the only person in Australia to visit Nauru. That's called bias, not transparency.