By Australian Associated Press
Published: 04:00 BST, 16 June 2019 | Updated: 04:34 BST, 16 June 2019
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Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton says he doesn't know whether any of the murderers and rapists he warned would come to Australia under refugee medical evacuation laws have in fact come.
Mr Dutton said just over 30 asylum seekers have been transported from Manus Island and Nauru to Australia under the laws that passed parliament in February against the government's wishes.
None of them have gone to Christmas Island, where the government reopened a detention centre at a cost of $185 million to cope with the anticipated high number of asylum seekers claiming illness to get to Australia under the new law.
Home Minister Peter Dutton (pictured) says just over 30 asylum seekers have been transported from Manus Island and Nauru to Australia under the laws that passed parliament in February against the government's wishes
Amid debate around the legislation in February, Mr Dutton released advice from security agencies the laws would allow people in the centres accused of serious crimes to come to Australia for medical treatment.
But asked on Sunday whether any of these people had come, he said: 'I don't know the answer to that question in terms of the concerns that we have about individuals.'
The government intends to scrap the medivac law soon after the new parliament convenes in July, and Mr Dutton said he understood Labor was now open to supporting that repeal or a winding back of its provisions.
None of them have gone to Christmas Island, where the government reopened a detention centre with much fanfare and a $185 million price tag to cope with the flood of sick asylum seekers it asserted would arrive. (stock image of Phosphate Hill Detention