This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia, which closed in 2021.

Peter Dutton Says Abuse Claims 'An Issue For The Nauruan Government'

And stands by claims Nauru files are 'hype'.
Peter Dutton said some asylum seekers were self-harming to try to get to Australia.
ABC
Peter Dutton said some asylum seekers were self-harming to try to get to Australia.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the treatment of asylum seekers on Nauru was "an issue for the Nauruan Government" while Nauruan authorities investigate the 2,000 leaked incident reports of mistreatment in detention centres.

Dutton said there are "considerable differences" between the treatment of detainees in the Northern Territory juvenile justice system and asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Islands.

While the Federal Government announced a Royal Commission into the Northern Territory juvenile justice system after a Four Corners' report revealed systemic mistreatment of detainees, the Immigration Minister labelled the Nauru files "hype" after the leaked reports were published in The Guardian on Wednesday.

The 2000 reports detailed accounts of sexual assaults and self-harm.

I think there are some within that, that have been made on a false basis.Immigration Minister Peter Dutton

Speaking to Leigh Sales on The 7:30 Report on Thursday night, the Immigration Minister stood by his claim made earlier in the day that some reports were "hype".

"There are some that are legitimate and there are others that aren't and others that have been found not to be substantiated," Dutton said on the program.

"I think there are some within that, that have been made on a false basis. I think that we need to properly investigate the matters, particularly where substantial claims have been made."

The Immigration Minister said 20 of the 2000 incident reports -- which are still being analysed -- were sexual assault claims.

Dutton said he wanted to get asylum seekers out of the detention regime "tomorrow" but finding a third country to take the 1,300 asylum seekers in without encouraging people smugglers takes time.

The Immigration Minister labelled Sales' suggestion that the asylum seeker detainee regime was turning into a Guantanamo Bay situation as a "ridiculous analogy".

"People are making a choice they don't want to go back to their country of origin in many cases where we're offering thousands -- literally thousands and thousands of dollars -- for people to return to their country of origin, to provide assistance, and accommodation," Dutton said.

Some people have even gone to the extent of self-harming and people have self-immolated in an effort to get to Australia.Immigration Minister Peter Dutton

Earlier on Thursday Dutton addressed the leaked incident reports, arguing "some people do have a motivation to make a false complaint".

"I have been made aware of some incidents that have reported false allegations of sexual assault, because in the end, people have paid money to people smugglers and they want to come to our country," the Immigration Minister told 2GB Radio.

"Some people have even gone to the extent of self-harming and people have self-immolated in an effort to get to Australia. Certainly some have made false allegations."

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia. Certain site features have been disabled. If you have questions or concerns, please check our FAQ or contact support@huffpost.com.