The re-elected Coalition government is pushing forward with plans to repeal the medical evacuation laws following on from a commitment from prime minister Scott Morrison, who has identified repealing the legislation as a priority.
Conservative Party leader Cory Bernardi has welcomed the news and has pointed to the position the Labor Party now finds itself in, having pushed the bill through parliament earlier this year.
The medevac bill sets out conditions by which refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island must be transferred to Australia for medical treatment on the advice of two or more treating doctors.
Senator Bernardi has told Paul Murray Live on Sky News that Labor’s home affairs spokeswoman, Kristina Keneally now finds herself in the invidious position of defending the medevac legislation, which effectively weakens Australia’s sovereign borders.
