Scott Morrison dismisses asylum seeker mental health 'cover up' claim

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has dismissed a psychiatrist’s claim of an asylum seeker mental health "cover up".

Earlier this week a national inquiry into children in immigration detention was told  the scale of mental health issues among asylum seekers on Christmas Island had been grossly under reported. Psychiatrist Dr Peter Young claimed officials had asked him to withdraw some figures.

But Mr Morrison has hit back, telling ABC’s Insiders program that people shouldn’t jump to conclusions.

"I mean, in these meetings there is always two sets of versions of what has occurred,” he said.

"There was testimony that was given but I think it's important with this inquiry that we don't leap ahead and make a whole bunch of conclusions until that inquiry has been able to go through all its evidence.

Mr Morrison also rejected accusations a group of Tamils sent to Nauru were denied access to lawyers.

Lawyer George Newhouse who is representing the 157 Tamils in their ongoing High Court challenge, said they were not given the chance to talk to lawyers before they were moved to Nauru.