Asylum seekers lose High Court case, resulting in limited legal options

Asylum seekers and refugees in offshore detention have lost the ability to go to the Federal Court with complaints about poor medical treatment and claims for damages, in a High Court decision that has flow-on effects for dozens of current cases.

Lawyers for the four test cases, which included a two-year-old girl born on Nauru who developed a life-threatening neurological condition, argued the claims should be heard in the Federal and state courts.

But the court has agreed with the Federal Government which maintained only the High Court should consider such matters.

Up to 50 other similar cases have been waiting on the outcome of today’s ruling.

Lawyers representing the asylum seekers said they were concerned that if the issues had to be…