Melissa Parke (Fremantle, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the short time available I wish to raise three urgent issues. Firstly, I note the tragic passing of young Iranian refugee Omid Masoumali, who set himself alight on Nauru last week after a visit from UNHCR. He cried, 'This is how tired we are. This action will prove how exhausted we are. I cannot take it anymore.' There are reports that he did not receive timely medical treatment. I agree with Human Rights Commission President Gillian Triggs that:

This is a shocking situation that frankly is not a sustainable one.

The second urgent issue concerns Iranian asylum seeker Behnam Satah, the key witness to Reza Barati's murder, who is detained on Manus Island and who fears for his life after receiving regular death threats including from guards at the detention centre. I reiterate my support and that of the many Australians who signed the petition calling for Behnam to be brought to Australia.

Finally, there is the appalling matter of the young African refugee woman who was raped on Nauru while suffering an epilepsy attack and became pregnant as a result. The young woman has been transferred to Port Moresby for a termination. However, such operations are illegal in PNG, and it would be difficult to find a doctor who would have the necessary experience and skills to undertake an operation that will be exceedingly complicated due to the young woman having been infibulated in her childhood—that is, subjected to the most severe form of female genital mutilation. It is imperative that this young woman be brought to Australia for appropriate treatment.

Australia bears ultimate responsibility for the plight of this young woman, for Behnam Satah's safety and for Omid's despair. It is time for the government to correct a number of great wrongs and end offshore processing.