2 May 2017

Parliament treated with contempt over Nauru, Manus - lawyers

From , 3:05 pm on 2 May 2017

Lawyers in Australia say the immigration department has treated parliament with contempt by not co-operating with a senate inquiry into refugee processing centres on Manus Island and Nauru.

A report was issued last week from the six-month inquiry into allegations of abuse, self-harm and neglect of asylum seekers detained offshore by Australia.

In the report, the chair of the senate inquiry committee called the department's lack of accountability disturbing and for secrecy surrounding the centres to cease.

A barrister with the Australian Lawyers Alliance, Greg Barns, told Ben Robinson Drawbridge the department is blocking independent scrutiny.

Greg Barns

Greg Barns Photo: ABC - courtesy of Sensible Films