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Morrison government ‘does not have a clear mandate’ to repeal Medevac Bill
With federal parliament set to resume shortly, any attempt to unwind recently passed legislation that provides access to medical care for persons in offshore detention will be opposed by human rights lawyers in Australia.
Jerome Doraisamy
Speaking to Lawyers Weekly, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights president Kerry Weste said that the advocacy group “strongly opposes any move, mooted or planned” that could see a repeal of the legislation created via the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2018, commonly referred to as the Medevac Bill.
“The Medevac Bill was designed to ensure that people subject to offshore processing who are assessed as requiring medical treatment by two or more doctors are transferred to Australia so they can access the treatment they need.”
These legislative measures, Ms Weste continued, “were and remain necessary because the government has repeatedly failed to take the action that medical evidence demands” for adequate care of those in offshore detention.
“Offshore processing has created inhumane and dangerous conditions that have caused significant mental and physical damage to individuals. Twelve people have lost their lives, including eight people who have died as a result of suicide and inadequate healthcare,” she explained.
“ALHR has grave fears that this number will continue to rise should the government move to repeal the Medivac Bill.”
Instead of “demonising people who have already suffered for many years and who are entitled to seek Australia’s protection” under international human rights law, Ms Weste argued, the Morrison government should be focused on preventing any more deaths as a result of offshore processing, she said.
“ALHR continues its call for the government to bring every person transferred to Manus Island and Nauru to safety, and we do so again, noting the inhumane and dangerous conditions created by offshore processing.”
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly and HR Leader. He has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. In June 2024, he also assumed the editorship of HR Leader. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
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