What Four Corners revealed last night about the circumstances around the death of Iranian asylum seeker Hamid Kehazaei confirms yet again that the Australian government has a deliberate policy of wilful neglect of the asylum seekers it has detained.
That a man in Australia’s care died of an easily treatable infection is horrific enough. That he died after bureaucrats in Canberra failed to respond to requests from staff on the ground and quibbled about whether he should receive adequate care should shock all of us.
Unfortunately, there will be no scrutiny or accountability for the bureaucrats concerned. Bureaucrats must implement the policies of the elected government, and it is for that government to be held accountable by the electorate and by the law. But this only applies to policies that are lawful, and public servants under the APS values are required to achieve “the highest standard of ethical behaviour”, make “right decisions”, “respect all people” and “treat all people with dignity”.
The policy of wilful neglect adopted by the Immigration Department, undoubtedly at the behest of the government, plainly does not, and could not, comply with these requirements. The public servants implementing this policy are in clear breach of their duties as public servants.
The public servants whose decisions may have contributed to the death of Hamid Kehazaei should be exposed to public scrutiny and judgement. Claiming to be merely following the instructions of the government is not good enough — not morally, and not in terms of the values they are legally required to comply with.
People should be facing manslaughter charges.
This is the same Department that is thwarting Tony Abbott’s promise to bring 12000 refugees to Australia by employing delaying tactics at every turn to delay or deny them access. Is this however Government policy? Or maybe the Department of Immgration is now a law unto itself!
Goes back beyond Rau and Solon – a culture that treats some people as subhuman – as if promotion depends on indifference?
Then this government inherited them.
Thoroughly agree, Crikey. Having spent the best part of fifty years in the health care sector…prior to retirement… I am totally shocked by the 4 Corners revelations.
This is what happens when the public service becomes ‘politicised’…we have the Coalition governments going back to the Howard years to thank for that!
But that doesn’t excuse the current mob…they all have blood on their hands. Politicians and public servants alike!!
Public Servants take their lead directly from their interpretation of their political masters. The term “Wilful neglect” of itself “sugar” terminology, when considered against the atrocious inhumanity dealt out to a dying man. A fate determined by no fault of his own. Embedded within Australian law is “Duty of Care.” The individual holding that responsibility in this case was the then Minister of Immigration. The mere fact that the victim died an horrendous death, and details of that death had been suppressed so long, reveals how far our National sense of accountability has been eroded. We are a nation of pariahs and truly deserve so. Honest members of the medical profession have spoken out, despite legal intimidation. The legal fraternity remains complicit. The Minister, is beyond parliamentary accountability . . and another soul, through no fault of his own, has died without justice.