Doctors at a Brisbane hospital have refused to release a one-year-old girl, badly burnt on Nauru, until a “suitable home environment is identified”.
The girl was injured when boiling water was accidentally spilt inside the tent she was living in with her parents.
She was flown to Brisbane and admitted to Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital.
In a statement on Friday, a hospital spokesman said the baby would not be discharged until a “suitable home environment is identified, as is the case with every child who presents at hospital”.
“All decisions relating to a patient’s treatment and discharge are made by qualified clinical staff, based on a thorough assessment of the individual patient’s clinical condition and circumstances, and with the goal of delivering the best outcome,” the statement read.
It is understood the baby’s injuries are healing well and her condition is now listed as stable.
The girl’s parents are both in Brisbane and have been visiting her daily.
Refugee Action Collective’s Mark Gillespie said they were terrified at the prospect of being returned to Nauru.
“Both of them they don’t want to go back,” Mr Gillespie said.
“They’re fearful for their baby and the conditions that they face. It’s just horrible for them and they’re resolute that they don’t want to go back. It’s just terrible for them.”
Hospital protest to keep burnt baby in Australia to continue
About 50 protesters gathered outside the hospital on Friday night to support the hospital’s decision — some held signs calling for the closure of detention centres on Manus and Nauru.
Protest spokeswoman Ellen Roberts said: “We are gathered here tonight in support of the young girl who is inside the hospital and her family.”
“We also … support the doctors who have taken a very brave stance in refusing to release her.”
Ros McLennan from the Queensland Council of Unions said protesters would continue to support hospital staff for as long as it takes.
“It’s absolutely disgraceful that the Federal Government can even be contemplating removing a sick little kid from a hospital situation in Brisbane to detention in Nauru,” she said.
“I absolutely commend the doctors, nurses and hospital staff for putting the child’s best interests above the ideological desires of the Federal Government.”
Greens Immigration spokeswoman Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said she had “huge admiration for these doctors and nurses who are doing the right thing and refusing to release her”.
“All strength to the medical professionals at the Brisbane hospital for acting in the best interests of this child,” she said.
“The doctors know that discharging this baby would send her and her family straight to the dangers of indefinite detention on Nauru.
“It’s time Malcolm Turnbull listened to the medical experts and realised that there is no government policy that can justifying the abuse of children.
“The Turnbull Government needs a Nauru exit strategy, before more children are permanently harmed.”
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s office declined to comment on the matter.