Australia's largest medical bodies have demanded the Abbott government allow an independent group of doctors to investigate claims of mistreatment and abuse of children being held in immigration detention.
The Australian Medical Association, the Royal Association College of General Practitioners and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists say they are dismayed at the abysmal conditions and the length of detention for children, as heard in the Australia Human Rights Commission's inquiry on Thursday.
The Royal Association College of General Practitioners (RACPG) said the standard of care for children in immigration detention was well below Australian standards, even though Immigration secretary Martin Bowles said it was ''commensurate'' with mainland medical services.
''The RACPG standards for general practice are not being adhered to, despite the Immigration Department saying that they are. We definitely refute that,'' said Christine Boyce, the organisation's spokeswoman on refugee health.
''We have evidence that the doctors are very challenged to have to offer health services in that environment and they are placed under stress by the Department of Immigration.
''We are certainly calling for independent oversight of the delivery of health services and other services in detention and offshore.''
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists said it was ''alarming'' that the Immigration Department had told the health provider to withdraw alarming mental health statistics.
''That suggests the minister may end up being ill-informed or ill-advised of the harm the children are suffering,'' said Dr Nick Kowalenko, the chair of the college's faculty of child and adolescent psychiatry.
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison would not comment on the alleged cover-up of mental health statistics.
''The government will await the outcomes of that inquiry to be detailed and any supporting evidence in the final report,'' a spokeswoman for Minister Morrison said.
''More than 80 per cent of children are resident in the community either on bridging visas or under residence determinations.''
The inquiry also heard a significant number of children in immigration detention were self-harming, were grossly neglected or had high levels of mental illness.
''What really concerns us is the children are still in detention and the secrecy around this is really worrying,'' said Paul Bauert, an Australian Medical Association spokesman and the head of paediatrics at the Royal Hospital of Darwin.
''I do not feel these children are being adequately treated and not at the same standards as the way Australian children are being treated and should be treated.''
The Australian Greens will move an order in the Senate calling for all documents relating to the statistics that were asked to be withdrawn by the Immigration Department.
''The government's silence on this shocking revelation simply isn't good enough,'' said Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
''The culture of secrecy that is developing within the Immigration Department, overseen by the Abbott government, is extremely concerning.''
Dr Kowalenko said independent medical advice was absent from the immigration system.
''Some children have very complex medical issues, and also the trauma they might suffer … that requires specialist care.''
