Silence of the Lambie: Medevac law’s final hope stays mum on plans
The government tabled legislation to repeal the laws earlier this month
The future of the so-called ‘medevac’ laws hangs by a thread — and the vote of one mercurial politician — but advocates are refusing to give up hope.
When Dr Kerryn Phelps’ legislation giving doctors greater power over the treatment of people in offshore immigration detention passed parliament in February, the then-independent MP and GP said it showed what happened when “good-hearted people work together for a good cause”.
Since then, doctors have been able to secure transfers of at least 30 people to Australia from the detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru.
But the federal election in May saw Dr Phelps ousted from her seat and the re-election of the Coalition government, who say abolishing the law is one of their top priorities.
