Independent report finds aid workers were unfairly fired on Nauru for political reasons and there was no evidence to back claims they fabricated abuse stories

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

The Turnbull government must apologise to aid group Save the Children for unjustifiably removing 10 of its staff from Nauru, the opposition says.

Labor’s immigration spokesman Richard Marles says the release of a report on the matter late on Friday was an attempt to avoid scrutiny, but the government could not duck an apology.

“Yesterday’s report found no evidence the staff acted outside their duties and that they should be offered compensation,” he said in a statement on Saturday.

“The government needs to today issue an immediate apology to Save the Children and the staff involved.”

Save the Children workers unfairly fired on Nauru for political reasons – report Read more

The report, written Adjunct Professor Christopher Doogan, exonerated the aid workers over claims they fabricated Nauru detention centre abuse stories and coached asylum seekers into self-harm, as well as sexual misconduct allegations.

Save the Children boss Paul Ronalds has called for a meeting with the government to discuss potential compensation.

“We are proud of our dedicated staff who worked on Nauru with some of the most vulnerable children in the toughest of circumstances,” he said in a statement on Friday.

“The idea that they would fabricate cases of abuse or encourage children to hurt themselves was always absurd.”

