‘Inhumane’: Gosling demands Dutton release refugees detained in Darwin hotel

FEDERAL Member for Solomon Luke Gosling has slammed the coalition for their “inhumane” treatment of a group of refugees kept indefinitely in a facility near the Darwin airport.

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FEDERAL Member for Solomon Luke Gosling has slammed the coalition for their “inhumane” treatment of a group of refugees kept indefinitely in a Darwin facility, saying they are being denied basic rights including being served food with maggots in it.

A group of nine refugees from Iran have been detained in a federal government run facility behind the Darwin Mercure Airport Hotel for over a year after being transported to Darwin from Nauru for medical treatment.

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In a speech given in federal parliament yesterday, Mr Gosling called on Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton to release the remaining refugees into community detention as has happened in other cities.

He said two Sri Lankan refugees were flown back to Nauru in the early hours of Monday morning after asking to return because “they figured they were better off on Nauru than being locked up in indefinite detention in Darwin.”

A group of refugees have been detained in a Darwin facility for 12 months. A protest was organised to mark the one year anniversary at the Mecure Darwin Airport Hotel. Photograph: Che Chorley

Mr Gosling described the conditions the group were subjected to, including being denied the medical treatment they were actually brought to Darwin for.

“Denied dignity, safety, and privacy. Their medical visits and needs not being recorded. Not being told what the medications are that are being administered to them,” Mr Gosling said.

“A migration agent told me their diet was poor due to being provided takeaway meals from the Mercure hotel that are routinely unpalatable.

“The agent said: ‘They are often given reused leftovers and it is regularly unhygienic with hairs, insects and even maggots.’”

He said the mental and physical health of the refugees “is suffering enormously.”

“The extended suffering of all these refugees has been perpetrated by those opposite,” Mr Gosling said.

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“I call on Minister Dutton to release these refugees into community detention immediately, as has already been done in Brisbane and Melbourne.

“Let them out and shut it down. Immediately.”

The Department of Home Affairs has been contacted for comment.

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