Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The response from the Turnbull government to the reporting of the Nauru files shows it is attempting to wipe its hands of responsibility. The government must provide a safe and humane environment for all people seeking asylum who are within Australia's offshore detention network. The number of children involved is very concerning and the allegations of self-harm are very disturbing. Due to the inadequate response from the Turnbull government to these serious reports, Labor will refer allegations in the Nauru files to a Senate committee for inquiry. We do not need a royal commission to tell us that there are real problems here. We need the government to take responsibility for its actions and to adopt a clear set of policies, as the Labor Party has outlined, and we need to investigate the allegations of serious abuse and self-harm reported in the Guardian. Therefore, we oppose the senator's motion.