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Immigration Minister Scott Morrison says the media need to “move on” from claims that asylum seekers had their hands deliberately burnt by naval officers and that the matter is closed.
It comes after the ABC's 7.30 aired further claims on Monday that force was used on a group of asylum seekers who reached the northern tip of Australia in January before being towed back.
The story backed up earlier allegations from a Sudanese asylum seeker who claimed to have witnessed abuse with claims from a second asylum seeker who alleged his hand was burnt intentionally by officers after they stopped him from using the toilet.
Mr Morrison told ABC Radio on Tuesday the allegations were “recycled”, offensive and baseless and the government would continue to strenuously deny them.
He also attacked the ABC for not correcting the record after Media Watch argued it had overreached in earlier reports by airing unverified claims from Indonesian police.
“I choose to believe the assessment that has been given to me by the navy,” he said.
“I know that others are doubting those assessments, they're free to do that, it's a free country.
“I believe the navy.”
Mr Morrison said it was not up to the government to disprove criticisms but that “it's for those who have the allegations to be actually able to prove them positive.”
He said there was nothing in Monday night's report that made the claims “any more credible” than what was first aired two months ago.
“Nothing's moved on, I suggest the ABC should,” he said.
The Immigration Minister also refused to confirm if there was video footage of the tow back in question.
Mr Morrison said it was policy to take video for search and rescue operations and this was not a search and rescue.
“People can choose to believe the claims they saw on 7.30 last night from people who said they rushed officers, they sought to sabotage a vessel, they sought to illegally enter Australia,” he said.
“Last week [on 7.30] we heard the claims of people who invoked 9/11, who swore at officers and threatened to kill them.
“If people want to believe those stories they can. I don't.”
Asked whether there would be a thorough investigation of the allegations he said: “This matter is closed”.
Earlier this month an independent audit into the ABC's coverage of asylum seekers found only some isolated cases of bias.
Former 60 Minutes executive producer Gerald Stone assessed a sample of 97 stories between August 2012 and December 2013, and concluded 93 were impartial. But he did not review the ABC's subsequent reports on the abuse claims.
