Refugee Update

Lots of caution is needed around the report of the five-year-old asylum seeker allegedly raped on Nauru. The Department of Immigration has stated that this crime is a "figment". All that has happened is that certain quotes regarding a twelve-year-old boy, who was allegedly raped, were misreported as referring to a five-year-old child, who was allegedly sexually assaulted in some way not involving penetration (the Department's phrase is "skin to skin contact"). "Our source, the treating doctor told our reporters about two cases. One was an older child. The doctor stands by her statement that this child was allegedly raped on Nauru. She also told our reporters about another of her patients, a five-year-old who was allegedly sexually assaulted on Nauru. Our story incorrectly used quotes about the older child in referring to the younger child." (ABC, 9 February 2015) Not to worry - as the Daily Telegraph's front cover informed us yesterday, the kiddies on Nauru will be getting a brightly coloured playground!

Immigration detention 'not the right place' for children: Border Force's chief doctor (GA, 9 February 2016)

WA offers to take deportee children destined for Nauru (The West Australian, 9 February 2016)