Asylum seeker Ebrahim Qasimi fronts Hornsby Local Court over assaulting two nurses at Royal North Shore Hospital

An Afghan asylum seeker has denied assaulting two nurses at Royal North Shore Hospital when he was transferred from Nauru for medical treatment.

An Afghan asylum seeker has denied assaulting two nurses at Royal North Shore Hospital when he was transferred from Nauru for medical treatment.

Ebrahim Qasimi’s not guilty plea at Hornsby Local Court comes amid a political battle in Canberra in which the Coalition lost control of the parliament and Labor joined the Greens to pass a bill to make it easier for asylum seekers to get medical treatment in Australia.

Shortly before Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the Christmas Island detention centre would reopen, Qasimi walked into the courthouse Wednesday morning surrounded by four guards and in handcuffs.

Ebrahim Qasimi is led into Hornsby Court by four guards. Picture: John Grainger

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The 38-year-old, who arrived in Australia via Christmas Island in 2013, is accused of grabbing two nurses on the buttocks as he underwent treatment at the St Leonards hospital.

Qasimi had been transferred to Sydney for medical treatment on January 4.

The assault is alleged to have taken place just over a week after his arrival.

When the nurses he allegedly targeted reported the incident to Serco guards and the asylum seeker was told of their complaint, he allegedly threatened to assault both of the nurses.

Qasimi was charged by police with common assault, sexually touching a person without consent and stalking or intimidating with intent to cause fear or harm.

Ebrahim Qasimi appeared briefly before registrar Giouvenali this morning for his second court appearance where his legal aid solicitor entered the not guilty plea. Picture: John Grainger

He appeared briefly before registrar Giouvenali on Tuesday morning for his second court appearance where his legal aid solicitor entered the not guilty plea before the matter was adjourned to April 3. He then refused to answer questions as he was then led back out to a white van to return to Villawood detention centre.

Qasimi’s second court mention comes after Kerryn Phelps joined with Labor, the crossbenchers and the Greens to inflict a historic defeat of the government on the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday night.

Doctors will now have a greater say when asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island are to be medevaced to Australia with the result of the vote setting up a dramatic election contest over border security.

The humiliating 75-74 defeat is the first time a government has lost a vote on substantive legislation in the House of Representatives since 1941.

On Tuesday morning Mr Morrison said that the Christmas Island detention centre would reopen.

Senator Derryn Hinch, whose vote is crucial to the bill passing the Senate, has also been given an urgent security briefing on the bill.

“I just want to see, before I make any decisions, where the bill is at for the moment,” he said.

Ebrahim Qasimi. Picture John Grainger

Ebrahim Qasimi is handcuffed and escorted into court. Picture: John Grainger