Pregnant asylum seekers on Nauru will not be moved to Australia: Dutton

The federal government said it will not be transferring a group of pregnant asylum seeker women to Australia for medical treatment, after they refused to be treated at Nauru's upgraded health facilities.

Australian Federal Immigration Minister Peter Dutton

Australian Federal Immigration Minister Peter Dutton Source: AAP

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the federal government would not be "blackmailed" into allowing pregnant asylum seekers at Nauru's detention centre into Australia for medical treatment.

Rights groups said some pregnant women at the Nauru detention centre are refusing medical treatment.

A Somali woman, who became pregnant after allegedly being raped on Nauru, arrived in Australia earlier this week.

The 23-year-old requested to come to Australia to have an abortion, a procedure that is illegal in Nauru except when the mother's life is in danger.

Minister Dutton said the federal government would not "be taken for mugs".
"The racket that's been going here is that people at the margins come to Australia from Nauru," he told .

"We can't send them back to Nauru and there are over 200 people in that category."

He said Australia has provided $A26 million to refurbish Nauru's hospital.
Mr Dutton said asylum seekers needing more care would be sent to an international hospital in Papua New Guinea, which has received $A11 million in funding from the Australian government.

"As we say we want to provide a safe environment, a humane environment, but we aren't going to be taken for mugs," he said.

"I believe very strongly that we need to take a firm stance, provide the medical support that is required. If people think they're going to force our hand to come to Australia, that is not going to happen."


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2 min read
Published 15 October 2015 5:18pm
Updated 15 October 2015 9:57pm
By SBS Staff
Source: SBS


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