The Claim
“Appointed someone to head the investigation into the Manus Island riots who claimed that rape victims in Manus Island detention centres receive better treatment than Australians.”
Original Sources Provided
✅ FACTUAL VERIFICATION
The claim is TRUE based on the documented record. Robert Cornall, former Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department (2000-2008), was appointed by the Department of Immigration to conduct a review into the February 2014 riots at the Manus Island Regional Processing Centre that resulted in the death of Iranian asylum seeker Reza Barati [1].
According to a transcript obtained by New Matilda of an interview Cornall conducted with Manus Island whistleblower Rod St George (as part of an earlier 2013 review into rape allegations at the centre), Cornall made the specific statements attributed to him in the claim [1].
During the interview regarding emotional support provided to a young Iranian man who had been raped by fellow detainees, Cornall asked: "in Australia today, people are no doubt being sexually assaulted and there would be rapes occurring in Australia today, and what sort of support do they get? And what sort of assistance do they get... I don't think any of them would get that amount of attention in Australia" [1].
Cornall also made additional controversial remarks during the same interview, questioning whether rape was "just part of Iranian culture" and asking: "people have said to me that in Iranian culture, male rape or male sexual intercourse is more culturally acceptable... And also that it is a way of more mature males dominating young men. Is that in accordance to your understanding" [1].
Missing Context
The claim omits several important contextual elements:
1. Cornall's previous role in investigating the same facility: Cornall had been paid $94,200 in 2013 to conduct a review into prior allegations of rape and torture at Manus Island before being reappointed to investigate the February 2014 riots [1]. His appointment for the second review was consistent with his prior engagement.
2. Cornall was a respected senior public servant: Before his appointment to investigate Manus Island, Cornall had served as Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department from 2000-2008 [2]. He was a career public servant with an established record in government administration.
3. The interview was conducted months before the riots investigation: The controversial remarks were made during the 2013 rape allegations investigation, not the February 2014 riots investigation - though the same person was appointed to both reviews [1].
4. Whistleblower's perspective: Rod St George, the whistleblower who made the original rape allegations, was "outraged by the Cornall review's findings" when they were released in October 2013, stating "there's just a blatant refusal on the part of the Department of Immigration to address these things" [1].
Source Credibility Assessment
New Matilda is the sole original source provided. According to Media Bias/Fact Check and Wikipedia, New Matilda is a "left-wing independent Australian website of news, analysis and satire" founded in 2004 [3][4]. The article was written by Marni Cordell, who has written for Guardian Australia [1].
New Matilda states its mission is to publish "intelligent coverage of Australian and international politics, media and culture" and is edited by Chris Graham, a Walkley Award and Human Rights Award winning journalist [1].
Assessment: New Matilda has a clear progressive/left-wing editorial stance, which aligns with criticism of Coalition asylum seeker policies. However, the article provides specific documentary evidence (a transcript) and quotes that have not been disputed. The information has been corroborated by other sources including Guardian Australia [1]. While the outlet has an ideological perspective, the factual claims about Cornall's remarks appear accurate based on the primary source transcript obtained.
Labor Comparison
Did Labor do something similar?
The Manus Island detention centre was reopened by the Labor government in August 2012 under Prime Minister Julia Gillard [5][6]. The offshore processing policy was originally established in 2001 under the Howard government (Coalition) as the "Pacific Solution," officially terminated by the first Rudd Labor government in 2008, then reinstated by Labor in August 2012 [6].
Reza Barati, the Iranian asylum seeker killed in the February 2014 riots, was "sent there by the Rudd government in August" 2013 [7].
Key comparative points:
Both parties implemented offshore detention: The policy framework that placed asylum seekers at Manus Island was established and maintained by both major parties. Labor reopened the centre in 2012 before the Coalition won government in September 2013 [5][6].
Senate inquiry findings: A Senate inquiry in December 2014 (after the Coalition took office) found that the Australian Government failed in its duty to protect asylum seekers and that the violence was "eminently foreseeable" [8]. However, the conditions that led to this outcome were established under the bipartisan offshore processing policy.
Independent reviews are standard practice: The appointment of senior public servants or former officials to conduct independent reviews of government operations is standard practice across administrations, not unique to the Coalition.
Balanced Perspective
While the claim accurately identifies Cornall's controversial remarks, the full context reveals:
Criticism of the appointment: The appointment of someone who had made culturally insensitive remarks and questioned rape victims' treatment to investigate serious allegations of violence was problematic. Whistleblower Rod St George predicted that a "truly independent review would lay bare the real causes for trouble on Manus" and suggested the narrow focus of Cornall's inquiry would protect the Department of Immigration from scrutiny [1].
The government's position: The Cornall review was commissioned by the Department of Immigration to investigate specific security and management issues at the centre. The final report identified "significant gaps in information provided to people in detention about their claims, resettlement options and future prospects" and recommended improvements to security arrangements and communications [9].
Systemic policy issue: The Manus Island situation was the result of bipartisan offshore processing policies. The facility was reopened by Labor in 2012, and the conditions that led to the February 2014 violence developed over the preceding 18 months spanning both governments. The Senate inquiry found the violence "eminently foreseeable" - a finding that applies to the policy framework, not just the Coalition's management [8].
Not unique to Coalition: The appointment of former senior public servants to conduct reviews is standard practice across Australian governments. Cornall's prior experience in the Attorney-General's Department would have made him a conventional choice for such a review, notwithstanding the inappropriate nature of his remarks in the prior interview.
TRUE
6.0
out of 10
The claim is factually accurate. Robert Cornall was appointed to head the investigation into the Manus Island riots, and he did make the attributed comments claiming that rape victims at Manus Island detention centres receive better treatment than Australian rape victims would. The transcript of his interview documenting these remarks was obtained and published by New Matilda and has not been disputed.
However, the claim should be understood in the broader context that: (1) Manus Island was reopened by the Labor government in 2012, with the deceased asylum seeker sent there by the Rudd government; (2) Cornall was a former senior public servant with established credentials; and (3) the interview containing the controversial remarks was conducted during his prior review in 2013, not the riots investigation itself - though the same person was appointed to both reviews.
Final Score
6.0
OUT OF 10
TRUE
The claim is factually accurate. Robert Cornall was appointed to head the investigation into the Manus Island riots, and he did make the attributed comments claiming that rape victims at Manus Island detention centres receive better treatment than Australian rape victims would. The transcript of his interview documenting these remarks was obtained and published by New Matilda and has not been disputed.
However, the claim should be understood in the broader context that: (1) Manus Island was reopened by the Labor government in 2012, with the deceased asylum seeker sent there by the Rudd government; (2) Cornall was a former senior public servant with established credentials; and (3) the interview containing the controversial remarks was conducted during his prior review in 2013, not the riots investigation itself - though the same person was appointed to both reviews.
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.