The Claim
“Bribed murder witnesses with the offer of the rights that they are currently being denied, to make them withdraw their statements about the death of someone who was murdered by the government's contractors.”
Original Sources Provided
✅ FACTUAL VERIFICATION
The claim is based on allegations made by prominent human rights lawyer Julian Burnside QC during his acceptance of the Sydney Peace Prize on November 5, 2014. Burnside stated: "It is my understanding that some people in the Manus Island detention centre are being offered the opportunity of being taken to mainland Australia on the condition that they withdraw any witness statements they've made" [1].
The allegation concerns the death of Reza Barati (also spelled Berati), a 23-year-old Iranian asylum seeker who was killed on February 17, 2014 during riots at the Manus Island Regional Processing Centre [2]. The official Cornall Review, conducted by former Attorney-General's Department Secretary Robert Cornall, confirmed that Barati "suffered a severe brain injury caused by a brutal beating by several assailants and died a few hours later" [3]. Two PNG men were later convicted of his murder in 2016 [4].
Critical Point: The claim rests solely on Burnside's statement that he had a "confidential source" who told him about the alleged offers [1]. No corroborating evidence, documentation, or witness testimony has ever emerged to substantiate these specific allegations. Immigration Minister Scott Morrison vehemently denied the claims at the time, calling them "a false and offensive suggestion made without any basis or substantiation by advocates with proven form of political malice and opposition to the Government's successful border protection policies" [1].
Missing Context
The allegation was unproven and based on a single confidential source. The claim presents Burnside's allegation as established fact when it was actually an unverified claim made by a human rights advocate with acknowledged opposition to the government's policies. Burnside himself described both major political parties as having "courted political favour by promising cruelty" and called the 2013 election "probably the most shameful moment in Australia's political history" [1].
No evidence ever emerged to prove the bribery claim. Despite extensive media coverage, Senate inquiries, and ongoing legal proceedings related to Barati's death, no concrete evidence has surfaced to substantiate the specific allegation that witnesses were offered relocation in exchange for withdrawing statements [5].
The Australian expatriate guards were never charged. While two PNG locals were convicted, Australian expat security guards allegedly involved in the attack were never brought to justice [4]. Justice Nicholas Kirriwom noted during sentencing that the convicted men received shorter sentences because others not yet charged were also involved [4].
The Manus Island centre predates the Coalition government. The detention facility was originally established in 2001 under the Howard government (Coalition), closed by Kevin Rudd in 2008, and reopened by Julia Gillard's Labor government in 2012 [6]. Barati arrived on July 24, 2013 - just five days after the "PNG solution" was announced by the Rudd Labor government [2].
Source Credibility Assessment
The original source is an SBS News article reporting on Julian Burnside's Sydney Peace Prize acceptance speech. SBS News is a mainstream, reputable Australian broadcaster. However, the article reports Burnside's allegations, not established facts.
Julian Burnside is a highly credentialed QC and human rights advocate, but he is also an outspoken critic of Australia's asylum seeker policies with acknowledged political opposition to both major parties' approaches [1]. His description of both Labor and Coalition as engaging in "cruelty" and his characterization of political leaders as "midgets" [1] demonstrates his advocacy stance.
The claim transforms an unverified allegation from a confidential source into a definitive statement of fact - a significant distortion.
Labor Comparison
Did Labor do something similar?
Search conducted: "Manus Island detention centre history Labor government reopening 2012"
Finding: The Manus Island detention centre was reopened by the Labor government in 2012 under Prime Minister Julia Gillard [6]. Reza Barati arrived in Australia on July 24, 2013 - during the Rudd Labor government - and was sent to Manus Island in August 2013 [2]. The "PNG solution" that established the processing regime was announced by Kevin Rudd's Labor government in July 2013 [2].
Mandatory detention of asylum seekers in Australia was originally established by the Keating Labor government through the Migration Reform Act 1992 [7]. The policy was tightened under the Howard government (Coalition), including the original "Pacific Solution" in 2001 [7].
Deaths in detention have occurred under both parties. The Australian Border Deaths Database records over 2,000 deaths associated with Australia's border controls since 2000 [8]. Deaths in immigration detention have occurred under Labor, Coalition, and mixed governments.
Key distinction: While Labor reopened Manus Island and Barati arrived during a Labor government, the physical death occurred in February 2014 under the Abbott Coalition government. However, the broader policy framework - offshore processing on Manus Island - was established and maintained by both parties.
Balanced Perspective
The claim presents a serious allegation of witness tampering as established fact. However, the reality is more complex:
The allegation: Burnside claimed, based on a confidential source, that witnesses were offered relocation to Australia in exchange for withdrawing statements [1]. If true, this would represent serious misconduct.
The denial: Immigration Minister Scott Morrison categorically denied the allegations, characterizing them as politically motivated attacks by advocates opposed to government policy [1].
The evidence gap: No corroborating evidence has ever emerged to substantiate the specific bribery claim. The allegation remains unproven despite extensive scrutiny through Senate inquiries, media investigations, and legal proceedings [5].
The systemic context: The death of Reza Barati was thoroughly investigated by the Cornall Review, which found serious failures in security management [3]. The Senate inquiry found the Australian Government failed in its duty to protect asylum seekers [5]. Two PNG men were convicted, but Australian expat guards allegedly involved were never charged [4].
The bipartisan reality: Offshore detention on Manus Island has been supported by both major parties. Labor reopened the centre in 2012; the Coalition maintained it. Both parties have presided over deaths and serious incidents in immigration detention [7][8].
Is this unique to the Coalition? No. Serious incidents and deaths in immigration detention have occurred under governments of both parties. The specific bribery allegation relates to the Coalition period, but the broader policy framework and detention centre operation involved bipartisan support.
PARTIALLY TRUE
4.0
out of 10
The claim transforms an unverified allegation made by an advocate with acknowledged political opposition to government policy into a statement of established fact. While the underlying death of Reza Barati is well-documented and deeply troubling, the specific claim that the government "bribed" witnesses was an allegation based on a single confidential source that was vehemently denied and never substantiated. The claim omits that: (1) the allegation was unproven; (2) the government categorically denied it; (3) no corroborating evidence emerged; (4) the Manus Island centre was reopened by Labor in 2012; and (5) both parties have presided over deaths in detention. The claim uses loaded language ("bribed," "denied rights") that assumes facts not in evidence.
Final Score
4.0
OUT OF 10
PARTIALLY TRUE
The claim transforms an unverified allegation made by an advocate with acknowledged political opposition to government policy into a statement of established fact. While the underlying death of Reza Barati is well-documented and deeply troubling, the specific claim that the government "bribed" witnesses was an allegation based on a single confidential source that was vehemently denied and never substantiated. The claim omits that: (1) the allegation was unproven; (2) the government categorically denied it; (3) no corroborating evidence emerged; (4) the Manus Island centre was reopened by Labor in 2012; and (5) both parties have presided over deaths in detention. The claim uses loaded language ("bribed," "denied rights") that assumes facts not in evidence.
📚 SOURCES & CITATIONS (8)
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1
abc.net.au
Federal Immigration Minister Scott Morrison denies claims by human rights lawyer Julian Burnside QC that asylum seekers were offered relocation to Australia in return for withdrawing witness statements about the death of Iranian detainee Reza Barati.
Abc Net -
2
en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia
-
3PDF
review robert cornall
Web Archive • PDF Document -
4
theguardian.com
Papua New Guinean judge says men given shorter prison term because others were also involved in killing Barati
the Guardian -
5PDF
Manus Island report
Static Guim Co • PDF Document -
6
sbs.com.au
Nearly all 742 residents are intending to remain at the PNG detention centre, established in 2001.
SBS News -
7
en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia -
8
law.ox.ac.uk
Background The ANZSOC Thematic Group on Crimmigration and Border Control are the new custodians of
Faculty of Law
Rating Scale Methodology
1-3: FALSE
Factually incorrect or malicious fabrication.
4-6: PARTIAL
Some truth but context is missing or skewed.
7-9: MOSTLY TRUE
Minor technicalities or phrasing issues.
10: ACCURATE
Perfectly verified and contextually fair.
Methodology: Ratings are determined through cross-referencing official government records, independent fact-checking organizations, and primary source documents.