Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator McKim, move:

That the Senate:

(a) notes:

  (i) that, on 12 September 2018, it was reported that in June 2018, lawyers representing the Department of Home Affairs argued in court against bringing to Australia a pregnant woman suffering female genital mutilation (FGM) in detention on Nauru for a surgical abortion,

  (ii) that whistleblower allegations, reported in August 2017, that Australian Border Force (ABF) impliedly facilitated a change in policy to require requests for abortion to be referred to the Nauruan Overseas Medical Referral (OMR) committee and the Republic of Nauru Hospital, which have opposed all abortion referrals since, and

  (iii) the specific medical needs of women in detention with unwanted pregnancies, including the associated post-traumatic stress and physical risks for women suffering FGM; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to:

  (i) reverse the recently introduced process which requires all requests for terminations to go before the OMR and the Republic of Nauru Hospital,

  (ii) require ABF to take decisions which are underpinned by Australian medical standards, and

  (iii) stop arguing in court to prevent pregnant women needing specialised medical attention from receiving that attention in Australia.

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In June 2018 lawyers representing the Department of Home Affairs argued in court against bringing a pregnant refugee, suffering female genital mutilation in detention on Nauru, to Australia for an abortion. The court found that the specific medical needs of women who had undergone FGM were so specialised that they could not be met in Taiwan, and that the woman should be brought to Australia for appropriate medical treatment.

The case highlights the ongoing inhumanity of our border protection policies. This Somali refugee should have already been living in this country and should not have been detained indefinitely in an offshore hellhole trying desperately to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. The government is trying to wash its hands of its responsibility for the health care of innocent people seeking our nation's protection. Border Force decisions must be underpinned by Australian medical standards, and never again should taxpayer funds be used to argue in court against a pregnant woman needing specialised medical attention getting that attention here. This motion urges the minister to take responsibility for the medical requirements, particularly of pregnant women— (Time expired)

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Health care is provided by international health and medical services to all transferees at the regional processing centre. Decisions about medical transfers are made on a case-by-case basis according to clinical need in consultation with the contracted health services provider and following advice from medical officers of the Commonwealth.

Question agreed to.