Rejecting a United Nations report that alleges Australia of violating international anti-torture norms while treating asylum seekers, the country's Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said that Australians are "sick of being lectured" by the UN.
The sharp reaction from Australia came after a UN report – scheduled to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council on Monday—alleged that the country's immigration system currently in practice was in contravention to the global convention on torture and inhuman treatment.
The government of Australia failed to "provide adequate detention conditions," and "end the practice of detention of children" as well as to "put a stop to the escalating violence and tensions at the regional processing centre," according to the report by UN special rapporteur Juan Mendez.
"(Australia) has violated the right of the asylum seekers including children to be free from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment," it added.
When asked about the findings, Abbott told reporters: "I really think Australians are sick of being lectured to by the United Nations, particularly, given that we have stopped the boats, and by stopping the boats, we have ended the deaths at sea."
He added that stopping the immigration, especially from Indonesia to Australia, by boat was the "most humanitarian, most decent, the most compassionate thing we can do."
He added that Australia has "stopped the boats and I think the UN's representatives would have a lot more credibility if they were to give some credit to the Australian government for what we've been able to achieve in this area."
The UN report had alleged that ill-treatment of immigrants was most rampant in the Manus island.
Responding to the allegation, Abbott said: "All of the basic needs of the people on Manus Island are being met ... everyone's needs for food, for clothing, for shelter, for safety are being more than met."
