Sydney – An Australian doctor who blew the whistle on medical neglect of refugees in Nauru under Australian government policy has won an international free speech award, it was announced on Thursday.
“Doctor Nick Martin was awarded the 2019 Blueprint for Free Speech prize in London on Wednesday,’’ the organisation said on its Facebook site.
The Blueprint for Free Speech prizes are awarded to whistle-blowers who expose serious corruption or wrongdoing in the public interest.
It was previously given to former U.S. soldier Chelsea Manning who revealed abuses by the U.S. military.
Martin risked his job with the health company overseeing medical services for refugees held on Nauru under Australia’s offshore processing policy when he decided he had to reveal to the public what he called the government’s “inflexible, unswerving and shameless” treatment.
Although the Australian government bans anyone from talking about their work on Nauru, Martin told the public the policy of keeping asylum seekers caught trying to reach Australia by boat on Nauru and Manus Island set out to deliberately harm them.
He spoke out publicly, saying the government ignored doctors’ recommendations to treat dangerously ill people.
He was then sacked from his post with the International Health and Medical Services Company that had the contract to care for refugees.
Martin’s reports and advocacy for the well-being of asylum seekers held on Nauru helped get several of them flown to Australia for treatment.
The report also provided evidence for court challenges that brought dangerously unwell children to Australia.
