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The ABC has defended a Four Corners report on the conditions faced by children living on Nauru under Australia's immigration policy, after the Nauruan Government said the program was "racist" and "biased political propaganda and lies".
The Four Corners episode, which aired last night, detailed the experiences of some of the 755 people — including 128 children — who have been granted refugee status and are now living in the Nauru community alongside the 10,000 locals.
A statement released by the Nauruan Government this morning said the report was an example of "ABC's biased political propaganda and lies, and was an insult to the people of Nauru".
"It was clear that these children were coached, and that the entire process of filming the refugees was stage-managed, as the program has not been to Nauru," the statement said.
"Viewers could clearly see that the refugees featured were well dressed, well-groomed and healthy.
"No child is in detention on Nauru, and children live with their families in safe and comfortable accommodation, mostly in new housing close to shops, facilities and beaches."
The statement said the Four Corners report featured incorrect images of schools on the island "in a deliberate attempt to misrepresent the facts" and referred to a hospital that is no longer being used.
"This report was an embarrassment to journalism. From start to finish it was denigrating, racist, false and pure political activism," the statement said.
The Nauruan Government also criticised the program for failing to offer them the chance to respond to allegations aired in the report and relying on "discredited organisation" Save the Children to make "wild and unsubstantiated claims".
An ABC spokeswoman defended the program, saying it was "an important story, of obvious public interest".
"The interviews with the children were conducted remotely by Four Corners, and their stories were subjected to the program's usual rigorous fact-checking processes," she said.
"The program was made in this way because the Nauruan Government routinely refuses journalists access to report on offshore processing, and charges prohibitive fees for media visas which are not refunded if the applications are refused."
In an interview with RN this morning, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull accused the program of rejecting Immigration Minister Peter Dutton's offer to comment on the program's claims.
Four Corners executive producer Sally Neighbour said Mr Dutton was given the opportunity to respond.
'Australia's commitment is compassionate'
Mr Turnbull has also strongly denied claims by Amnesty International that the treatment of asylum seeker children on Nauru amounts to torture.
The Amnesty report Island of Despair, which was also released on Monday night, found Australia's policy of holding refugees on Nauru indefinitely amounts to a systematic violation of human rights and possibly constitutes torture.
Mr Turnbull told RN it was "absolutely false".
"The Australian Government's commitment is compassionate and strong," he said.
"We provide significant support to the Government of Nauru for welfare and health services and that includes a medical clinic, upgrades at the hospital, of the Nauru Hospital, a new surgical facility, new school buildings, education, curriculum development."
Four Corners' The Forgotten Children episode can also be seen on Iview.
Topics: immigration, community-and-society, broadcasting, nauru, australia
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