Nauru detention centre unsafe for children, says senate panel amidst centre's sex abuse allegations

An Australian Senate Committee which went into the allegations of violence and child abuse at Nauru detention centre has validated the charges and recommended the government to shift out all asylum seeker children and families from the centre as it is unsafe for children. The Senate committee described the conditions at Nauru centre as “not adequate, appropriate or safe.”

Calling for a "full audit" into the allegations of sexual abuse and other criminal conduct, the panel urged for reasonable access to Human Rights Commission and media persons to the detention centre.

"The committee is deeply concerned that without this inquiry, the allegations heard and evidence received would not have been uncovered," the report said. The panel said it is convinced that there is no other pathway open for those affected by what they have seen and experienced in the Regional Processing Centre on Nauru in disclosing allegations of mistreatment, abuse or complaints.

“Australia created the Regional Processing Centre in Nauru. It is Australia's responsibility and in its present form, it is unsupportable," the report affirmed.

Minister rejects report

However, the report was rejected by Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, who called it a “political witch hunt.” The minister pointed out the committee was dominated by Labor and the Greens. At the same time, Dutton indicated that he is open to constructive recommendations from the Senate panel of inquiry.

"I'm happy to consider any of the recommendations which provide a better outcome for people," Dutton said.

The Senate inquiry was set up in March after the Moss Review exposed alleged sexual exploitation of detainees, including children, by the staff of the detention centre. Currently, 637 asylum seekers are detained in Nauru, which include 86 children. From the submissions, the committee reportedly inferred that the government was aware of the abuse of children before it publicly acknowledged the allegations through the release of the Moss Review in September 2014.

Transfield renews contract

Meanwhile, the controversial Nauru detention centre operator Transfield Services has been chosen again as the “preferred tenderer” to run the government-funded detention camps at Nauru and Manus Island for another five years, reports Sydney Morning Herald.

Transfield Services, in a statement informed the Australian Stock Exchange that it had been chosen as the preferred tenderer to operate the federal government's offshore detention centres. Transfield took over from security group G4S on Manus Island in February 2014 and was running the Nauru detention centre since 2013.

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