11 Dec 2014

Australia minister accused of making false Manus claims

10:27 am on 11 December 2014

Australia's Green Party says claims by the immigration minister, Scott Morrison, that the treatment given to asylum seeker Hamid Kehazae in Canberra's detention centre in Papua New Guinea was outstanding are plainly false.

24-year-old Mr Kehazaei died in a Brisbane hospital in August after a foot cut turned septic.

An inquiry has been conducted by Australia's chief medical officer but the Green's immigration spokesperson, Sarah Hanson-Young, says it has been contradicted by the Australian Medical Association and Mr Morrison's statement is false and misleading.

Asylum seekers behind behind a fence on which a sign orders guards to carry the hooked knives used to cut the rope of people who attempt to hang themselves.

A sign on a fence orders guards to carry hooked knives used to cut the rope of people who attempt to hang themselves. Photo: AAP

She says the minister has a habit of jumping the gun and lying to the Australian public.

Ms Hanson-Young cited his claim that Reza Barati, who was murdered in PNG early this year, was killed outside the Manus camp when that was later proven not to be the case.

She says now Mr Morrison is claiming Mr Kehazaei received outstanding medical treatment.

Ms Hanson-Young says either the minister is lying in an attempt to deceive the public or he is not being briefed properly by his department, leaving him to look incompetent.

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