Medivac bill: Derryn Hinch votes with Labor

After wavering in his support, Derryn Hinch explains what persuaded him to back the medivac bill in the senate.

Justice Party senator Derryn Hinch said he decided to back the medivac bill in the senate, guaranteeing it passed the Upper House, because it only applied to those asylum seekers already on Nauru and Manus Island.

The key crossbench senator had earlier demanded a security briefing before deciding which way he would vote. Senator Hinch, who supported the changes late last year, had been wavering before the draft laws returned to the upper house for final approval. He wanted a guarantee the legislation is constitutionally sound and sought an assurance its security checks are strict enough to stop serious criminals coming to Australia.

“I have been briefed by both sides of this Parliament,’’ he said. “I had a half-hour briefing with security forces this morning. I do have some doubts about some aspects of it.

“What really swayed me was the amendment that I’m surprised the Greens agreed to, that is the one that will apply only to people who are currently on Nauru or on Manus.”

He said the Home Affairs Department had assured him any asylum seekers brought to Australia for medical attention would remain in detention in some manner or form.

“So they will not be coming here and wandering around the streets of Australia,” he said.

“It has been a very tortured 24 hours, it has been a lot of pressure, from a lot of people. That is part of this job, but now I can proudly say, yes, I think it is the right decision, I think it is a humanitarian decision.

“The Justice Party is about protecting young people, old people, and sick people.”

Senator Hinch says he did not get a security briefing before he voted for the bill last December. “Maybe we should have,” he said.

.@HumanHeadline on the medivac bill: I have not seen the amendments to this bill. I want to see it before making a decision

MORE: https://t.co/sIV5TA43yY #FirstEdition pic.twitter.com/2qKasoEL45

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) February 12, 2019

The changes make it easier for doctors to facilitate medical evacuations for sick asylum seekerson Manus Island and Nauru.

Cabinet minister Simon Birmingham fears the reforms will restart the people-smuggling trade and had urged Senator Hinch to reconsider his support. “We would urge Derryn and every crossbench member to think long and hard about the necessity of this legislation versus the consequences of this legislation,” he told Sky News.

Senator Penny Wong talks to Senator Derryn Hinch in the Senate Chamber. Picture: Kym Smith

The coalition government suffered a humiliating defeat in the House of Representatives late yesterday, when the legislation passed against its wishes. The changes make it easier for doctors to facilitate medical evacuations for sick asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru.

At the same time debate on the bill was brought on in the Senate, Scott Morrison announced the government would reopen the Christmas Island immigration detention centre and toughen up Operation Sovereign Borders.

With AAP