Australia accused of denying detainees medical care

Asylum seekers detained offshore are being denied access to urgent medical care in Australia because immigration officials fear they will access legal assistance otherwise unavailable to them, an alliance of health workers says. The allegation comes from the group thatreviews medical cases at the request of refugees detained in offshore prisons on Nauru, Manus, and Christmas Island. Despite a lack of medical equipment and expertise available locally, it is increasingly rare for detainees to be sent to Australia for treatment. "There's a push to keep them away from Australia," said Dr Barri Phatarfod, co-founder of the medical alliance. "The fear is that in Australia they may have access to...