11 Feb 2015

"Culture of abuse" at Nauru detention centre

2:59 pm on 11 February 2015

A nurse who worked in the Australian-run detention centre on Nauru says a culture of abuse of asylum seekers by guards has been established there.

The Australian Senate has voted to support a Greens' motion, forcing the government to today release the report of the Moss Review into accusations of systemic abuse in the detention camps on Nauru.

Alanna Maycock says she witnessed verbal and physical abuse of asylum seekers, lack of privacy for women in the camps, a lack of sanitary towels and behavioural issues in children.

A small group of Muslim refugees pray at sunset while other refugees (background) participate in a football match at a camp for the asylum seekers on the small island of Nauru, 20 September 2001.

Asylum seekers on Nauru Photo: AFP

Ms Maycock says there is a feeling security guards can treat asylum seekers how they want.

"There's almost a culture of abuse that has been established on the island that the Australian government, the perception is the Australian government don't want them here, and so they can behave how they want and it's almost a feeling of lawlessness on Nauru."

A nurse who has worked at the Australian-run detention centre on Nauru, Alanna Maycock.