7 Jan 2004

Nauru accuses Australia of failing to provide adequate medical care for detainees

8:33 am on 7 January 2004

The Australian government is denying that it has failed to look after immigration detainees on Nauru.

Nauru's Finance Minister Kinza Clodumar says Australia has failed to honour its agreement to provide adequate medical care for the detainees.

But the Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone says hunger strikers on Nauru are in good health and she is determined to honour Australia's commitment to provide one-point-eight-million dollars worth of medical supplies.

Meanwhile an Afghan community leader in Sydney and a former Australian cabinet minister are due to make a report to Senator Vanstone next week on conditions on Nauru.

After a preliminary meeting with them yesterday, Ms Vanstone said she had been told conditions have improved.