An immigration detainee is launching court action against the federal government, arguing it failed to provide safe conditions during the coronavirus pandemic.

A refugee in immigration detention has launched a High Court challenge against Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and his department over the threat of COVID-19 infection risk while held in immigration detention.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will argue the government is breaching its duty of care by failing to provide safe conditions during the pandemic.

Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner, peak medical bodies advising the federal government, the World Health Organization and the UN have called for the release of immigration detainees where it is safe to do so to reduce the threat.

Legal documents filed late on Monday state that the unnamed man has “complex medical conditions” including asthma, a heart condition and diabetes which puts him at higher risk of “severe illness or death” if a coronavirus outbreak accurs.

Please click here to read the full “Sick refugee takes on Peter Dutton over coronavirus detention fears” article published at SBS News, written by Griffith Asia Institute Industry Fellow, Stefan Armbruster.