‘I’d say they’re false, they’re absolutely false,’ prime minister says of allegations by former guard for Wilson Security in submission to Senate inquiry

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Tony Abbott has denied an allegation asylum seekers are being waterboarded while held in detention in Nauru.

A former security guard for Wilson Security on the island made the allegation in a submission to the Senate inquiry into circumstances and conditions at the Australian-run offshore detention centre.

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The anonymous guard said he would give evidence to the committee about torture taking place on Nauru, including “waterboarding asylum seekers throughout the facility” though no further detail is given.

The prime minister was asked about the allegations on Sunday. “I’d say they’re false, they’re absolutely false and if people have evidence to the contrary, let it be produced,” he said.

Abbott has previously refused to deny other allegations relating to asylum seekers, such as claims a crew was paid to turn around a boat carrying asylum seekers, saying in such cases he would not discuss details of Operation Sovereign Borders.

The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, denied the allegations on Friday.

The security guard also alleged that documents reporting asylum seeker misconduct had been fabricated and documents that incriminated Wilson Security employees had been destroyed.

Wilson Security has responded to the allegation of water torture saying there was no evidence to back up the claim.

“We are extremely concerned by this very serious allegation,” it said. “If this claim was true it would amount to criminal activity that would not be tolerated by Wilson Security.

“However there is not has never been any suggestion that this has ever occurred – apart from this unparticularised and generalised claim. We reject the claim, and have seen nothing to suggest that it is credible.”

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Wilson Security added that asylum seekers had regular access to telephones, internet and social media.

“Finally, we are unable to conceive why such activity would ever take place – the Nauru facility is a processing seeker for asylum seekers,” the company said. “It is not involved in anti-terrorism activities.

“It has no information-gathering function. There is simply no motive for this sort of activity. The absence of details makes it very difficult to provide any further response.

“Of course, if we became aware of any evidence supporting an allegation of this nature, we would immediately contact the police and other authorities.”

