Federal Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has denied statements made by prominent human rights lawyer Julian Burnside QC that asylum seekers were offered relocation to Australia in return for withdrawing witness statements about the death of Iranian detainee Reza Barati.

Mr Burnside, an outspoken critic of the Federal Government's immigration detention policies, made the claim while accepting the Sydney Peace Prize last night.

He said a confidential source told him witnesses to the death of Mr Barati were offered transfer to Australia if they took back their statements.

"My understanding is that some people in the Manus Island detention are being offered the opportunity of being taken to mainland Australia on condition they withdraw any witness statements they've made," he told the function at Sydney Town Hall.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-06/julian-burnside-slams-federal-government-f...


An official report found Mr Barati suffered a severe brain injury caused by a brutal beating by several assailants and died a few hours later.

Mr Burnside said he was told 13 to 14 people were involved in the death of Mr Barati.

He told the function he had received a sworn statement from an eyewitness about Mr Barati's death.

"An employee of the detention centre, armed with a length of timber with two nails driven through it, had lashed out at Reza Barati and had brought down two crushing blows on his head," Mr Burnside said.

He said Mr Barati's scalp was lacerated and he fell to the ground.

He was then kicked repeatedly by a dozen employees from within the detention centre including two Australians. They kicked him in the head and stomach as he tried to protect himself with his arms, Mr Burnside told the crowd.

He said another employee took a rock and smashed it on Mr Barati's head with "such ferocity, it killed him".

Two PNG men were charged with murder but their trial was delayed because they did not have lawyers.

In a wide ranging speech on Australia's human rights record, Mr Burnside accused both the Coalition and Labor of treating asylum seekers in a cruel and selfish manner.

But he said he was not party political.

"Labor has never contradicted the Coalition's dishonest message about asylum seekers," he said.

"The Coalition call them illegal. It's a lie.

"The Coalition call them queue jumpers. It's a lie."

Rocketanski wrote on Nov 6^th, 2014 at 1:37pm:


No.

____ wrote on Nov 6^th, 2014 at 1:28pm:



True, very true.

They've done a very good job of demonising asylum seekers.

The thing I find strange though, is that there are so many ignorant people out there who fall for these lies.

I suppose they really want to believe, as it reinforces their irrational bigotry.

Quote:


Just think, for a minute.

Shortly, with the passing of Abbott's "Everything Operational" laws, we wont be getting this type of information, much less discussing it.

Lobo wrote on Nov 6^th, 2014 at 1:42pm:



Yes, our friend Bubba.



I look forward to future socks, under names like Goose, Toecutter, Kundalini, Mudguts, etc.

Rocketanski wrote on Nov 6^th, 2014 at 1:56pm:



You'll be back, Rockatansky!

No, I R-O-C-K-E-T-A-N-S-K-I. from Kuzbekiswasilanka, and no, I do not wish to hear that 'we're gonna give 'em back the heroes' crap.

greggerypeccary wrote on Nov 6^th, 2014 at 2:00pm:


Sockalotsky??