A Failure of Moral Leadership
The recent reviewinto the events on 16th-18th February at the Manus Island Regional
Processing Centre that led to the death of 23 year old Iranian Asylum
seeker, Reza Barati, raises several questions about the responsibilities
incumbent upon the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and
its minister, Scott Morrison.
But, more importantly, it also raises questions of political leadership generally.
Commissioned as it was by the Department, the report has been
criticised as short on detail and containing little that had not been
reported already by New Matilda, the ABC, the Guardian and Fairfax. According to Max Chalmers of New Matilda, the report by former Robert Cornall is a farce.
Despite acknowledging serious deficiencies in the treatment of
detainees including the overcrowded conditions, failure to process
claims and failing to give adequate answers to questions raised by
detainees as to their future, the report
offers little by way of corrective action. It does, however,
demonstrate a direct correlation between the tension, anger and
frustration which led to the riots and the Australian Government’s
asylum seeker policies.
Those policies include being sent to Papua New Guinea in the first
place and having no chance of being resettled in Australia. It also
cites the length of time taken to determine their status as refugees,
the length of time spent at Manus and information concerning their
resettlement in New Guinea as contributing factors. “Cornall’s
most recent review indicates that the frustration and uncertainty faced
by asylum seekers awaiting processing, as well as their despair at the
prospect of never being resettled in Australia, led to protests and an
antagonistic relationship between asylum seekers and locals employed in
the centre,” Max Chalmers writes.
Let us consider that prior to the riots, not one of the 1340
detainees’ claims had been processed. Consider that detainees had no
idea how long they would be kept in the overcrowded compounds. Consider
the heat, humidity, inadequate hygiene, the mental anguish, the
depression and the likelihood of racial tension both within and outside
the camp. Consider the lack of information being provided. Any one of
these factors was enough to cause disquiet. Put together, they became a
ticking time bomb about which warnings were issued to the department.
Cornall’s review is disturbing on several levels. It confirms earlier
media reports of the involvement of GS4 staff, PNG Police, PNG
nationals and Australian expats. It confirms that detainees not involved
in the riots were dragged from their beds and beaten. Eyewitness
reports confirm Reza Barati was set upon by up to ten people including
one PNG Salvation Army staff member and beaten mercilessly. The PNG
police are still conducting their own investigation into the riots and
now claim they are hamstrung by a lack of cooperation “from all involved.”
The role of the previous government in this tragic event cannot be
ignored. Kevin Rudd’s decision to reopen the Manus Island detention
centre was political. He acted in a manner consistent with a leader
trying to deflect criticism from an opposition that smelt blood. He was
trying to deny the opposition traction on a highly toxic issue in an
upcoming election. He decided on the policy to permanently deny asylum
seekers who arrived by boat, settlement in Australia. That decision was
also political. But the then opposition, now the government, were happy
to go along with it. They would have done it themselves anyway. The
transfer of the first detainees was swift and poorly prepared. It was a
failure of moral leadership.
This was not the first time Rudd acted in haste. The present
government is conducting a Royal Commission into the pink bats fiasco
which led to the death of four workers. That earlier decision to set up
the roof insulation programme was also poorly prepared. The present
government is now spending millions of dollars designed primarily to
embarrass the previous government.
The parallels between the Manus Island riots and the pink bats fiasco
where four young men died cannot be ignored. Former ministers Peter
Garrett, Mark Abib and Kevin Rudd have been called to account at that
hearing. Similarly, a man has died while under the protection of the
Immigration minister, Scott Morrison. Why is he not being called to
account? The best ‘mean culpa’ Scott Morrison has been able to offer is
his ‘great regret’. Morrison added that it was, “terrible, tragic and
distressing.”
Byany reasonable measure, ministerial responsibility demands Scott
Morrison’s resignation. In his statement following the release of the
Cornall review he acknowledged the delay in setting up CCTV, better
lighting and fencing that he had approved in November last year. Even
here, he could not resist firing off a broadside at the previous
government who he claimed had done nothing. He too, was playing
politics. He has given no explanation as to why, as late as February,
still no asylum seekers claims had been processed. Why was there such a
long delay? Was the Department of Immigration and Border Control
deliberately delaying the process? Were they deliberately leaving
detainees to believe that they could be in detention for years as a
means of encouraging them to return home? Are not the actions of the
department worthy of an inquiry that puts them under the spotlight? This
too, is a failure of moral leadership.
Each of the recommendations that have been made in Robert Cornall’s
review begs the questions: Why is it there? Why has it not been shut
down? Why do we have offshore processing?
For a government so obsessed by waste and so keen to save money, the
economics alone should tell them this is bad policy. The inhumane
treatment should tell them this is immoral. History will record this
period as one of our lowest, rivaling our treatment of indigenous
Australians over the last century. Media attention on the pink bats
Royal Commission will eventually subside, regardless of the outcome. It
is a cheap political exercise. The issue of asylum seekers in offshore
detention will not subside. It will remain a ticking time bomb.
Thosein the broader community who have supported the policies of both
governments should also accept their share of the responsibility.
Politicians are weak and feeble people who thrive on what they perceive
to be the mood of the people. They are opportunists ever ready to seize
upon, and exploit, issues they believe will further their interests. The
people who support offshore processing should hang their heads in
shame. They, along with John Howard, Kevin Rudd, Scott Morrison and Tony
Abbott are all indirectly responsible for the death of Reza Barati.
Bill Shorten’s failure to raise one question this week in parliament
about Robert Cornall’s review indicts him as well.
They have all failed in moral leadership.
Violent clash between protestors and municipal police in Freedom Park, Phnom Penh, Cambodia © Flickr / Luc Forsyth
