An asylum seeker set himself and his accommodation alight at Hillside Haus on Manus Island. The incident occurred following the man allegedly returning from the local medical centre where he sought treatment for back pain but was denied. The man is currently being treated at the Pacific International Hospital. This is the second case of self-immolation in two weeks.
The minister for Home Affairs, Peter Dutton, told Sky News that pregnant asylum seekers on Nauru who were victims of rape and coming to Australia in need of abortion were ‘trying it on’ so they could remain in Australia. Minister Dutton claimed these women would change their mind upon arrival to Australia, and seek legal injunctions to stay. These remarks have been condemned by lawyers and asylum seeker advocates.
The Morrison government is expected to appeal a recent federal court decision that tested the new ‘medevac’ law, ruling that doctors don’t have to speak to a patient in order to make a medical assessment. Two doctors assessed the medical records of a 29-year old Iraqi man without a face-to-face interview or physical examination, and determined the need for this man’s urgent medical evacuation.
With the Australian parliament resuming on 2 July, the government is expected to seek to repeal the medevac law. Labor has maintained it will not support repealing this legislation, but has not ruled out supporting amendments. The government will need the votes of the crossbench in the Senate in order to repeal this law. The law has so far seen 30 people brought to Australia for care.
The PNG immigration minister, Petrus Thomas, said his government expects to ‘cancel or terminate’ the controversial contract with Paladin to run refugee and asylum seeker accommodation on Manus Island. The contract expires in two weeks, and Minister Dutton indicated this week that this contract may be extended, contradicting the PNG’s position.