The independent MP Kerryn Phelps says her crossbench colleague Cathy McGowan has given no indication she has withdrawn support for a bill that would give doctors more power to approve medical transfers from offshore detention.

Speaking on the ABC’s Q&A program on Monday night, Phelps said McGowan had “a long track record of supporting the rights of refugees” and that she hadn’t “seen any indication she has changed her mind” on the bill.

McGowan is the key vote in deciding whether the Morrison government faces a humiliating defeat on the floor of the House of Representatives when Phelps’ bill for emergency medical transfers from offshore detention goes before parliament.

The bill, due to be debated next week, requires the temporary transfer of all children and their families from offshore detention to Australia for the purpose of medical or psychiatric assessment.

On Monday Morrison sought to head off what would be a humiliating defeat on the floor of parliament by announcing an independent medical review panel to vet medical transfers of asylum seekers from offshore detention.

The proposal resembles a key component of the Phelps bill due to go before the parliament next week. However, it would not allow doctors to override the department blocking critically ill people transferring to Australia for treatment.

On Monday’s Q&A a number of key crossbench members including Andrew Wilkie, Rebecca Sharkie and Julia Banks indicated they would still support the Phelps bill.

Who should be held responsible if there are further deaths of asylum seekers on Nauru or Manus? #QandA pic.twitter.com/kDf5ZltXZQ — ABC Q&A (@QandA) February 4, 2019

“I will absolutely be supporting Kerryn Phelps’s bill,” Banks said.

“From my perspective, a sick person who needs help, who is seeking refuge, is a sick person. I don’t think this is the opportunity for the government to say that we’ve got the kids off now, we can all sit back and relax.”

Similarly, Wilkie said he would “certainly” support the Phelps bill.

“It makes sense to me [that] when someone is sick the person who should decide their fate is a doctor,” he said.

He said a series of Australian governments were “guilty of crimes against humanity” over the policy, and “if someone dies, the blood will be on their hands”.

.@WilkieMP says he will support @drkerrynphelps' bill, and that a series of Australian Governments are guilty of crimes against humanity #QandA pic.twitter.com/dJd24cuZDJ — ABC Q&A (@QandA) February 4, 2019

In order for the bill to pass, it will require McGowan’s support.

On Monday McGowan issued a statement which said she was “pleased” with Morrison’s announcement, but did not explicitly state whether she would support the Phelps’ bill.

“I will not give up on refugees and my voting record speaks for itself on this issue,” she said.

“In my speeches and in all my conversations on this topic I have consistently talked about how important it is for Australia to uphold its international obligations.

“Providing support for refugees while keeping our borders secure does not mean we should treat people in anything less than a humane way.”

However on Monday, Phelps said McGowan had given no indication either way on whether she would support the bill.

“She’s supportive of refugees but won’t show her hand until next week I’d think,” she said.

‘“It’s not up to us to say what she will do. The best thing the government can do is to vote with this and because it’s a really good piece of legislation. It’s a medical solution to a medical problem.”