Christopher Pyne suggests a proposal, backed by Labor, the Greens and the crossbench, would allow people to game the system to come to Australia.
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One in three Nauru refugees to seek medical help in Australia under Phelps bill, expert saysAhead of a showdown between the crossbench and Prime Minister Scott Morrison next week, a doctor formerly based on Nauru has said around 300 refugees will likely apply for mainland treatment if an urgent medical transfer bill is passed.
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Medical transfer bill would end offshore system: Minister ColemanImmigration Minister David Coleman says Australia's offshore processing of asylum seekers would fall apart under changes to medical transfers.
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Medical transfers bill will compromise Australia's border: ASIO | Sky News AustraliaASIO has warned up to a thousand asylum seekers could arrive in Australia within weeks if Kerryn Phelps’ medical transfers bill becomes law. \n\nSky News has confirmed that the intelligence agency told the government the bill ‘would undermine regional processing and compromise Australia’s strong border protection regime’. \n\n\n\n\n
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Labor’s legal advice on medical transfers bill called into question | Sky News AustraliaShadow Finance Minister Jim Chalmers has defended Labor's legal advice on a medical transfer bill, after Australia's security agencies reportedly warned against draft laws to change how transfers are processed.\n\nASIO has warned if the medical transfers bill becomes law, which would allow doctors to request asylum seekers be sent to Australia for medical treatment, up to 1,000 could arrive on national shores.\n\nMr Chalmers has told Sky News that there would be ministerial discretion to refuse people on national security grounds, debunking claims it could jeopardise the third pillar of border security, 'offshore processing'. \n\nImage: News Corp Australia \n\n\n\n\n
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Security concerns over refugee medical transfer bill | Sky News AustraliaAustralia’s intelligence agencies have reportedly warned against draft laws to change how medical transfers are processed for asylum seekers in offshore detention, claiming it could undermine the nation's border security.\n\nA briefing from the Department of Home Affairs says the medical transfer bill will strip the government of its power to conduct proper security threat assessments or stop mainland transfers, The Australian reports. \n\nThe changes, inspired by a push from independent MP Kerryn Phelps, would mean any two doctors could request a medical transfer for those in offshore detention.\n\nASIO has warned up to a 1000 asylum seekers could arrive in Australia within weeks if Kerryn Phelps’ medical transfers bill becomes law. \n\n\n\n
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Medical transfers are the 'backdoor way' for boat people to access Australia | Sky News AustraliaPrime Minister Scott Morrison has vowed the Coalition will vote against an Independent-backed asylum seeker medical evacuation bill, even if it means the government will lose a vote on the floor of parliament.\n\nLabor is supporting the legislation brought forward by Wentworth MP Kerryn Pehelps, which would make transfers for asylum seekers easier by giving the decision-making power to doctors.\n\nCurrently, the Home Affairs department has the final say over whether a refugee or asylum seeker who is housed in an offshore detention centre has the right to be transported to Australia to receive medical treatment.\n\nIf the government loses the vote, which they are expected to, it will be the first time since 1929 that a government has lost a vote on substantive legislation in the House of Representatives.
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Dutton warns Labor of border risks if refugee medical bill is passed | Sky News AustraliaHome Affairs minister Peter Dutton has called on Bill Shorten to oppose proposed laws which would change how medical transfers for asylum seekers in offshore detention are processed.\n\nMr Dutton says the proposal will 'dismantle' offshore detention and hand the final say to the two doctors requesting medical transfers.\n\nThe Home Affairs Minister claims Opposition Leader Bill Shorten had been briefed by security agencies on the risk of the proposal.\n\nBut a spokeswoman for Mr Shorten denied the claims, accusing the minister of lying.\n\nAustralia’s intelligence agencies have reportedly warned against the proposed changes, claiming it could undermine the nation's border security.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Medical transfers for off-shore asylum seekers 'undermining national security'Giving doctors more power to get asylum seekers out of offshore detention flies in the face of national security advice, the federal government warns.
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PM's medical transfers panel is a 'dog's breakfast': Michelle Rowland | Sky News AustraliaThe Prime Minister has bowed to demands from the Opposition to appoint an independent review panel to vet asylum seekers transferring to Australia. \n\nShadow Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has told Sky News ‘this not only looks like a back flip from the government, but a dog’s breakfast’. \n\nScott Morrison last year slammed the bill saying the government already had doctors advising on the transfer of asylum seekers. \n\nMs Rowland says the government backdown ‘comes in the face of what has been seen as a potential humiliating defeat for the government’. \n\n\n\n
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Children on Nauru are the people to be least concerned about | Sky News AustraliaSky News host Chris Kenny says that after visiting Nauru, children are the people he is least concerned about, due to the education and healthcare they receive.\n\nMr Kenny says it is the adults to worry about on Nauru and Manus Island, who are stressed and feel like they’re ‘in purgatory’ with their lives passing away. \n\nPrime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Sunday that the last asylum-seeker children are leaving Nauru and will head to the US with their families.
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