Dying refugee ‘moved from Nauru to Australia for treatment’ after backlash

A dying refugee has finally been allowed to move from Nauru to Australia for palliative care, after thousands of Aussies, doctors and countless organisations slammed the government and Peter Dutton’s immigration department for failing to act.

The asylum seeker, who has been identified in media reports as 63-year-old Hazara father ‘Ali’, is claimed to have just weeks or months to live as he battles aggressive lung cancer. He has spent five years on Nauru.

According to Australian Medical Association (AMA) president Tony Bartone, the Department of Home Affairs wanted him to be flown to Taiwan for care.

However, the AMA slammed the decision just days ago, claiming none of the man’s family would be able to join him there, and he was concerned no-one would be able to translate the language for him. There is also not thought to be a Hazara community in Taiwan.

Read more: Government using Nauru detainees as pawns

According to The Guardian, there are no specialist palliative care facilities on Nauru meaning ‘Ali’ can’t receive the pain relief and meds he needs.

The site reports the government also previously offered him $25,000 to return to Afghanistan, however, as he is a member of the persecuted Hazara minority, he has been formally recognised as a refugee and faces a real fear of persecution. Australia is reportedly legally obliged to protect him.

“The AMA has always held that all people who are under the protection of the Australian Government have the right to receive appropriate medical care without discrimination, regardless of citizenship or visa status,” Bartone said in a statement.

“They should be treated with compassion, respect and dignity.

Read more: Waleed Aly, Steve Price butt heads over Nauru

“On any score – international obligations, conventions, respect, standards of clinical and ethical care – we must not fail to provide the requisite medical care on Australia’s watch.”

Meanwhile, Dutton has responded to increased pressure to bring people in detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru to Australia, and claimed showing compassion could undo hard work already done to stop people-smuggling.

He told the Weekend Australian: “It’s not time to take our foot off the throat of this threat”.

He claimed we are in a “danger phase” and added: “There is excited chatter among people-smuggling syndicates about the prospect of Australia being available again.”

Starts at 60 has contacted Peter Dutton’s department for comment.

Do you think the government made the right decision to move this refugee for treatment? Do you think more needs to be done to move people from these detention centres?