10 Jun 2015

Australia alters Hanson-Young surveillance stance

5:30 pm on 10 June 2015

Australia's immigration department has confirmed that an opposition Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young was spied on during her visit to Nauru where Canberra runs a detention centre for asylum seekers.

The department secretary, Michael Pezzullo, says at least one staff of the Wilson security company trailed her in what he says may have been brain explosion.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young Photo: AFP

He says the person in question has since been disciplined.

Last week, the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, said the spying claims were complete nonsense and Ms Senator Hanson-Young was an embarrassment to Australia.

The prime minister, Tony Abbott, also dismissed her concern last week, saying she was being looked after.