Another Federal Politician Has Slammed The Government Over The Secrecy On Nauru

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie has accused the Australian government of having “much to hide”, after he became the latest person to be denied a visa to visit refugee detention centres on Nauru.

Wilkie’s request for a visa was rejected by Nauruan authorities, who reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone who might “incite violence or hatred in or against Nauru” as well as those “considered unwelcome and/or deemed contrary to the national interest.”

Wilkie’s rejected claim comes after both Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and a group of visiting Danish politicians were barred from entering the country last month.

Yet Another Report Has Highlighted The Abuse Asylum Seekers Face On Nauru

“The only conclusion that can be drawn from not allowing a sitting member of the federal parliament to visit is that the Australian government doesn’t want the truth coming out,” said Wilkie. The federal member for Denison in Tasmania also flatly rejected Malcolm Turnbull’s assertion that visits to Nauru were a matter for the Nauruan government.

“Let’s be clear – this is entirely down to the Australian government because we all know that Nauru does exactly what Australia tells it to,” said Wilkie. “Malcolm Turnbull could facilitate an official visit tomorrow if he wanted to. To claim otherwise is misleading and fanciful.”

“The recent leaking of thousands of accounts of incidents has re-energised public concern with offshore processing and the government is desperately scrambling to avoid any further scrutiny.”

Wilkie has long been a staunch opponent of offshore detention. He previously called Australia’s treatment of refugees “a crime against humanity”, and even referred Tony Abbott to the International Criminal Court.

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h/t The Guardian