Some Australian asylum seekers to be deported have cancer, terminal illnesses

Some of the 267 asylum seekers Australia wants to deport to an offshore immigration center following a court ruling are suffering from cancer and other terminal illnesses, a senior government official said on Monday. Some deportations could begin within days, but others would have to be dealt with in a staged fashion, because of the illnesses, said Michael Pezzullo, secretary of the department of immigration and border protection. “Regrettably in some cases, for reasons to do with very long-term, and indeed potentially terminal illnesses, some folks, I suspect, will be here for quite a while,” he said.

In some cases we’re talking about cancer, we’re talking about all sorts of long-run illnesses.

Government minister Michael Pezzullo

Australia’s High Court last week upheld the government’s right to deport detained asylum seekers to the tiny South Pacific island of Nauru, about 3,000 km (1,800 miles) north-east of Australia. The decision provoked criticism from the United Nations and sparked protest, with church leaders offering asylum seekers sanctuary. Under Australia’s controversial immigration policy, asylum seekers trying to reach the country by boat are intercepted and sent to camps on Nauru or on Manus island in Papua New Guinea. They can never be resettled in Australia.

Australia has a strong record of promoting and protecting human rights, at home and around the world.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop

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