A Senate Inquiry into the fatal riot in February blamed the violence on a failure to process asylum seeker claims, saying the violence was "eminently foreseeable".
It also found the Australian Government failed in its duty to protect asylum seekers, including Iranian national Reza Barati who was killed in the February riot.
The 156-page report also called for compensation for the victims, stating that the Australian Government should “acknowledge its responsibility to respect, protect and fulfil the human rights” of detainees at the Manus Island facility.
“Even if Australia did not exercise 'effective control', Australia would still be liable for breaches of international human rights law that occur in respect of asylum seekers held at Manus Island under the doctrine of joint liability,” it reads.
“The Australian Government, as the architect of the arrangements with Papua New Guinea, has a clear and compelling moral obligation to ensure the treatment of asylum seekers held on Manus Island.”
The report can be read in full at the end of the article.
At least 69 people were injured during the riots of February 18, which also killed Mr Berati.
He was beaten to death by a group of officials after being followed by a PNG man employed by the Salvation Army.
A report from a medical officer said Mr Berati’s head was “shattered” by a crack in his skull.
Immigration and Border Protection Minister Scott Morrison has accused Labor and the Greens of using the report "as a blatant attempt to whitewash their own failures in government".
“The Coalition Government inherited a centre on Manus Island which was underfunded and incomplete, and resettlement arrangements were little more than a blank sheet of paper," he said.
In a dissenting report, Liberal senators blamed the Rudd Labor government for most of the problems at the centre.
Key Recommendations
- Australia should assist PNG authorities with ongoing investigations and take witness statements from people now in Australia.
- The Australian government acknowledge its responsibility to protect the human rights of asylum seekers at the Manus Island detention centre.
- Compensation be paid to injured asylum seekers and the provision of adequate health care, mental health services rehabilitation and independent legal advice.
- That UN representatives, lawyers, journalists and the Australian Human Rights Commission be allowed to access the detention centre.
- Improved training for service provider staff.
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