Demand grows for inquiry into Australia refugee abuse

The release of more than 2,000 leaked reports of incidents on Nauru detailing allegations of widespread abuse and self-harm, including children wanting to kill themselves, have sparked new calls for a parliamentary inquiry.

Save the Children’s New Zealand CEO Heather Hayden says in light of the overwhelming reports of abuse, along with the growing sense of hopelessness among refugees and asylum seekers resulting from years of living in limbo, our government needs to insist that children and their families be removed immediately from Nauru.

A report based on interviews last month with those detained on Nauru conducted by researchers from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch found that asylum-seekers and refugees on the island suffered “severe abuse, inhumane treatment, and neglect”. “So called “reports” based exclusively on these claims”, the government tweeted on Tuesday.

“We’re seeing more and more disturbing reports coming out from Nauru”, opposition Labor leader Bill Shorten said on Monday.

Love Makes A Way Organiser Matt Anslow says the public are united in opposing the conditions within Nauru and Manus Island.

It turns back refugees to their country of departure or sends them to the impoverished island nations of Nauru and Papua New Guinea as well as on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

New revelations, published by The Guardian, cite incidents such as guards threatening a boy with death and only allowing a young woman a longer shower in return for sexual favors.

Mental stress caused by prolonged detention was deemed to be the cause of alleged cases of self-harm, including a woman trying to hang herself and a girl sewing her lips together.

Australians protest against the government’s immigration policies in Sydney on February 4, 2016.

Hayden says if Australia continues to be a barrier towards a positive outcome for refugees and asylum seekers languishing in effective indefinite detention, then the New Zealand government should instead engage directly with the Government of Nauru on resettlement.

The news comes at the government confirmed it had repatriated a group of six Sri Lankans attempting to reach Australia by boat.