A Liberal senator previously critical of refugee medical transfer laws was appointed chair of parliament’s human rights committee without fanfare this month.
The ABC reported Senator Sarah Henderson has been named head of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights in a 'captain's call' by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Her parliamentary profile confirmed the appointment made on 16 October.
The human rights committee last month raised concerns over the federal government’s push to repeal medical transfer laws at the centre of a political stoush.
Senator Henderson has in the past warned the medical transfer laws aren’t needed and pose a risk to the Coalition's border protection.
“There is no need for this bill … this is all about politics,” she told the ABC’s Q&A program in February.
“We are very very concerned … it’s unnecessary and it’s all about politics and not about substance.”
The medevac laws allow people to be transferred for medical treatment if two Australian-registered doctors recommend treatment in offshore detention centres cannot meet their needs.
Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson speaks during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Source: AAP
Earlier this year, Ms Henderson said those requiring medical treatment could already access assistance on Manus Island and Nauru.
The Morrison government is attempting to sway political support for repealing the measure with crossbencher Jacqui Lambie holding the deciding vote on whether this goes ahead.
Just this month, a government-dominated Senate committee recommended the medical transfer laws be scrapped, despite the majority of evidence submitted to its inquiry backing the process.
This came after parliament's human rights committee reported there was “serious concern” repealing the laws could lead to a lower level of access to health care for those in offshore detention last month.
“The committee is concerned that the repeal of the medical transfer provisions may constitute a backward step, that is, a retrogressive measure with respect to the level of attainment of right to health including access to health care,” the committee’s report read.
Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson has previously spoken out against the medevac laws. Source: AAP
Senator Henderson replaced Liberal MP Ian Goodenough as chair of the committee, who signed off on the bipartisan report released in September.
She is the Liberal party’s newest senator - returned to parliament last month after losing her lower house seat of Corangamite in the May election.
The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights consists of four Liberal representatives, four from Labor and one each from the Greens and Nationals.
There have been 135 asylum seekers brought to Australia from offshore detention since the medevac laws came into effect in March.
But only 13 of those people have been taken to hospital, and five others have refused treatment altogether.
The medevac laws state detainees are only in the country for a temporary purpose – but Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has raised concerns people could use it as a loophole to remain in Australia longer than required.
The prime minister and Senator Henderson's office have been contacted for comment.
