The Age (Melbourne) Taxpayers dole out $73,000 to send Papuans to Perth hospital By Jewel Topsfield, Canberra February 14, 2006
Two West Papuan asylum seekers with suspected tuberculosis were flown to Perth at a cost to taxpayers of $73,000, just two days after they were transferred to Christmas Island.
Forty-three people from the Indonesian province of West Papua arrived at Cape York last month to claim asylum in Australia.
A Senate committee yesterday was told that medical staff at Weipa, in Queensland, buttessed the group as fit to travel to detention at Christmas Island despite concerns about tuberculosis. Medical staff discussed those concerns after the asylum seekers underwent health checks. But they were not raised with immigration officials.
Soon after arriving on Christmas Island, a man and his daughter were rushed to Perth with suspected tuberculosis. The cost of the charter was $73,000.
Immigration Department buttistant secretary Dermot Casey told the committee immigration officials had acted on the medical advice that the 36 adults and seven children were fit to be moved to the island.
"In hindsight, we've been informed by Queensland Health there was some concern (about tuberculosis)," Mr Casey said.
"We were not aware of this until they arrived on Christmas Island."
The man has since been diagnosed with non-contagious tuberculosis and his daughter is still undergoing tests. They are expected to be returned to Christmas Island soon.
