The Claim
“Refused to give medical treatment to an asylum seeker with a cut on his foot, who later died because of an infection.”
Original Sources Provided
✅ FACTUAL VERIFICATION
The claim refers to Hamid Kehazaei, a 24-year-old Iranian asylum seeker who died on September 5, 2014, after developing septicaemia from an infected cut on his foot at the Manus Island detention centre [1]. The core facts of the incident are:
- Kehazaei cut his foot at the detention centre three weeks prior to his death [1]
- He developed septicaemia (bloodstream infection) from the wound [1]
- He was transferred from Manus Island to Port Moresby and then to Brisbane's Mater Hospital for treatment [1]
- He suffered a heart attack and was declared brain dead on September 1, 2014 [1]
- His family consented to withdrawal of life support, and he died on September 5, 2014 [1]
However, the claim that medical treatment was "refused" is not accurate. Medical records show that Kehazaei did receive medical attention. The issue was not refusal of treatment but rather delays in transferring him to adequate medical facilities due to bureaucratic obstacles [2].
Medical documents obtained by The Guardian and ABC revealed:
- Kehazaei first presented with an infected blister on his left shin and fever on August 23, 2014 [2]
- On August 25, International Health and Medical Services (IHMS) recommended his "urgent transfer" to Port Moresby [2]
- His transfer was delayed for 19 hours due to visa requirements to enter Papua New Guinea [2]
- The antibiotics needed to treat his infection had run out on Manus Island [2]
- By August 26, his condition had deteriorated significantly, with laboured breathing and dangerously low blood pressure [2]
The Queensland coroner later found that "a series of medical and communication errors led to the death" and that it was preventable [3].
Missing Context
The claim omits several critical pieces of context:
1. Bureaucratic delays, not refusal: The delay was caused by visa processing requirements for entry into Papua New Guinea, not an explicit refusal of medical care by Australian authorities [2]. Immigration Minister Scott Morrison stated the government would conduct a clinical review and cooperate fully with the Queensland coroner [1].
2. Systemic healthcare deficiencies: The case highlighted broader systemic failures in offshore detention healthcare. An IHMS whistleblower, Dr John Vallentine, had warned in April 2013 about inadequate medical equipment and supplies on Manus Island, including missing antibiotics, oxygen, blood transfusion capabilities, and pediatric emergency facilities [4].
3. Offshore detention policy origins: The Manus Island detention centre was reopened in August 2012 under the Labor Gillard government as part of the "Pacific Solution" phase two [5]. The facility and its medical infrastructure problems predated the Coalition government.
4. Second death on Manus: Kehazaei was the second asylum seeker to die on Manus Island within months. Reza Barati was killed in February 2014 during violent clashes at the detention centre [6].
Source Credibility Assessment
The original source provided is ABC News, which is Australia's national public broadcaster and generally considered a reputable, mainstream news source with high journalistic standards. The ABC's reporting on this incident was factual and included official statements from Immigration Minister Scott Morrison, medical details, and perspectives from refugee advocates [1].
Additional sources consulted include The Guardian, Sydney Morning Herald, and parliamentary records - all mainstream media outlets with established credibility. The medical records cited in subsequent reporting were obtained through official channels and confirmed by multiple news organisations [2].
Labor Comparison
Did Labor do something similar?
Search conducted: "Labor government asylum seeker offshore detention medical deaths" and "Labor Manus Nauru reopened 2012"
Finding: Yes, Labor established the policy framework that directly contributed to this death:
Labor reopened offshore detention: In August 2012, Prime Minister Julia Gillard reopened the Manus Island and Nauru detention centres that had been closed by the Rudd government in 2008 [5]. Kehazaei was sent to Manus under this reinstated policy.
Labor's "no advantage" policy: Labor implemented a policy that asylum seekers arriving by boat on or after August 13, 2012, would be sent to Nauru or Manus Island for processing and, if found to be refugees, would be required to remain there indefinitely [5].
Deaths at sea under Labor: The 2010 Christmas Island boat disaster (SIEV-221) occurred under Labor, killing 50 asylum seekers when their vessel was smashed against rocks [7]. This was described as "the worst civilian maritime disaster in Australia in more than a century" [7].
SIEV X (2001, Howard government): While preceding Labor, the SIEV X tragedy killed 353 asylum seekers (mainly women and children) when a boat sank en route to Australia [8].
Subsequent deaths under Coalition: The Omid Masoumali case (2016) - a refugee who self-immolated on Nauru - was also found by the Queensland coroner to have died from inadequate medical care [9].
Key distinction: While both parties implemented offshore detention policies that led to deaths, the specific claim about Kehazaei relates to medical delays within a system that Labor had re-established. The Coalition maintained and operated the policy, but did not create the offshore detention infrastructure.
Balanced Perspective
The death of Hamid Kehazaei was a preventable tragedy that exposed serious deficiencies in offshore detention healthcare. However, the framing of this as the Coalition "refusing" medical treatment oversimplifies a complex situation:
Legitimate criticisms:
- Medical records confirm treatment was delayed due to visa processing issues [2]
- The Manus Island clinic lacked adequate supplies, including the necessary antibiotics [2]
- Whistleblowers had warned about medical deficiencies before this death occurred [4]
- The Queensland coroner found the death was preventable and resulted from medical and communication errors [3]
- Dr Peter Young, former IHMS mental health director, stated the death highlighted "systemic failure" in offshore detention medical care [2]
Context and mitigating factors:
- Kehazaei did receive medical attention, and a transfer was eventually arranged - the issue was delay, not refusal [1][2]
- The government committed to a clinical review and cooperated with the coronial investigation [1]
- The offshore detention system and its inherent medical access problems were inherited from Labor's 2012 policy restart [5]
- The remote location of Manus Island created inherent logistical challenges for emergency medical care
Comparative analysis:
This death occurred within a bipartisan policy framework. The Labor Gillard government reopened Manus Island in 2012, and the Coalition continued operating it. Both governments have overseen asylum seeker deaths - Labor through the 2010 Christmas Island disaster (50 deaths) and establishment of the offshore system; the Coalition through deaths in offshore facilities including Kehazaei and Barati.
The claim implies this was a unique Coalition failure, but offshore detention deaths have occurred under both major parties' policies, suggesting this is a systemic issue with the offshore detention model itself rather than specific to one government's approach.
MISLEADING
5.0
out of 10
The claim mischaracterizes what occurred. Medical treatment was not "refused" - rather, a critically ill asylum seeker experienced dangerous delays in being transferred to adequate medical facilities due to bureaucratic visa processing requirements and systemic supply shortages. The Queensland coroner found the death was preventable and involved medical errors, which supports the seriousness of the failure. However, the framing as a "refusal" of treatment is inaccurate and omits critical context that the offshore detention system responsible for this death was re-established by the Labor government in 2012, and that asylum seeker deaths have tragically occurred under both parties' policies.
Final Score
5.0
OUT OF 10
MISLEADING
The claim mischaracterizes what occurred. Medical treatment was not "refused" - rather, a critically ill asylum seeker experienced dangerous delays in being transferred to adequate medical facilities due to bureaucratic visa processing requirements and systemic supply shortages. The Queensland coroner found the death was preventable and involved medical errors, which supports the seriousness of the failure. However, the framing as a "refusal" of treatment is inaccurate and omits critical context that the offshore detention system responsible for this death was re-established by the Labor government in 2012, and that asylum seeker deaths have tragically occurred under both parties' policies.
📚 SOURCES & CITATIONS (9)
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1
abc.net.au
Nine days after being transferred from the Manus Island detention centre with septicaemia, Iranian asylum seeker Hamid Kehazaei has died in a Brisbane hospital. Mr Kehazaei, 24, cut his foot at the detention centre three weeks ago. He had a heart attack before being declared brain dead in Brisbane's Mater Hospital on Tuesday. Immigration Minister Scott Morrison confirmed Mr Kehazaei died this evening after his family provided consent for withdrawal of his life support. "I am very saddened by this man's passing and on behalf of the Australian Government I extend our deepest sympathy to the man's family and friends," he said.
Abc Net -
2
theguardian.com
The 24-year-old Iranian, who died in a Brisbane hospital after an infected blister turned septic, was forced to wait almost a day for a medical transfer from Manus Island to the PNG mainland
the Guardian -
3
skynews.com.au
SkyNews.com.au — Australian News Headlines & World News Online from the best award winning journalists
Sky News -
4
abc.net.au
The plight of an asylum seeker who died from preventable septicaemia is so moving because it is so blithely routine in this surreal system.
Abc Net -
5
sbs.com.au
Asylum seekers, immigration and border protection look set to define Australia's next election.
SBS News -
6
smh.com.au
Asylum seeker Hamid Kehazaei, who developed a severe infection on Manus Island after he cut his foot, has died in a Brisbane hospital, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed.
The Sydney Morning Herald -
7
en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia -
8
en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia
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9
amnesty.org.au
The Queensland Coroner has found that the death of refugee, Omid Masoumali, in 2016 could have been avoided with the right medical care, and that there
Amnesty International Australia
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.