In case anyone in Australia is still surprised that a toddler had to be airlifted from an Australian detention centre for medical treatment - don't be. (Thread 1/10)
#hometobilo #auspol
#hometobilo #auspol
I've been reporting on this child and her health since 2018 when she was 14 months old. Here's my first story on her, which features a doctor - even then - citing concerns for her welfare. (2/10) crikey.com.au/2018/09/25/bil…
To my knowledge (and I'm really happy to be corrected on this) I remain the only journalist to have gone into an Australian detention centre to interview this family face to face. (3/10)
crikey.com.au/2019/06/18/pet…
crikey.com.au/2019/06/18/pet…
In 2019, weeks after surgery on her mouth, but before she was taken to a recommended post-op check, Tharunicaa and her family were traumatically removed from the Melbourne detention centre and taken to Christmas Island. (4/10)
crikey.com.au/2019/09/03/bil…
crikey.com.au/2019/09/03/bil…
Tharunicaa lost weight and I reported then, for the first time, that her entire family were forced to share a bed in the Christmas Island detention centre. After my story ran, detention staff finally gave the girls lunchboxes. (5/10)
crikey.com.au/2019/10/29/bil…
crikey.com.au/2019/10/29/bil…
In 2020, at the beginning of Covid, I reported with @az_journalist on info that detention staff hadn't been quarantining or social distancing. Tharunicaa's parents were very worried because of their little girls' well documented health issues. (6/10)
sbs.com.au/news/the-biloe…
sbs.com.au/news/the-biloe…
Then, Tharunicaa's mum Priya also had to be flown to Perth for medical treatment. Sensing a pattern? (7/10)
sbs.com.au/news/mother-fr…
sbs.com.au/news/mother-fr…
Still with me? Because last year, Tharunicaa's older sister spoke to me for this SBS story. You will believe what happens next reader - a 5 year old girl doesn't like living in a detention centre. (8/10)
sbs.com.au/news/four-to-a…
sbs.com.au/news/four-to-a…
Which brings us to today. Tharunicaa turns four in a week. She's been held in detention since she was nine months old. Her air ambulance just landed in Perth, where she has to be hospitalised for medical treatment. Again. (9/10)
And all this while Mr Morrison and Mr Dutton were fond of saying "We got the children out of detention". The new Home Affairs minister recently said "Compassion takes many different forms". Shame compassion didn't take an air ambulance. We might have got there faster. (10/10)
Extra: late last night #ABF responded to my questions. Their assertion that health services available in detention are comparable to those in Aus community is moot. Every parent in Australia can freely take their toddler to the Dr without having to ask guards #auspol #hometobilo
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