Politics

Medivac bill a victory for refugees

06:04 am on 14 February 2019

Refugees detained offshore by Australia have had their first political victory in Australia's parliament.

The passage of the Urgent Medical Treatment Bill will take power from bureaucrats and give it to doctors to order medical transfers for sick refugees.

About 1200 have been in exile for almost six years in Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus island, where doctors say there are medical crises.

Ben Robinson-Drawbridge has more.

Listen

Refugees on Manus Island protest at the West Lorengau Transit Centre, 9-2-19. Photo: Facebook