8 Sep 2014

Calls for independent investigation into refugee's death

5:26 am on 8 September 2014

The Australian Green Party is calling for an independent investigation into the death of an asylum seeker from Australia's off-shore detention centre in Papua New Guinea.

24 year-old Hamid Kehazaei was medivacced from Manus Island to Brisbane last week suffering from septicemia.

He suffered a heart attack and was later declared brain dead.

In February Iranian asylum seeker Reza Barati was allegedly beaten to death by a group of guards at the centre.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says the Government needs to appoint an independent team of medical experts to investigate Mr Kehazaei's death.

"The reason that this needs to be independent is because there is no faith that an internal review by the department [of immigration] will cover all of the issues, let alone be open and transparent."

Australian Green Party senator, Sarah Hanson-Young, also says the Manus Island detention camp should be closed immediately.