Two dozen asylum seekers flown from Nauru to Australia for medical treatment

At least two dozen asylum seekers have been quietly flown from Nauru to Australia for medical treatment since early September, it has emerged, as polling shows majority support for those declared refugees to be quickly resettled in Australia.

Arfin* was flown to a facility near Darwin airport to see a specialist at the start of September. But he has yet to be seen by a specialist since his arrival, and has been waiting more than a month for treatment.

Related: Afghan asylum seeker sues for false imprisonment in 'cockroach-infested' Australian facility

“They say this is going to be soon, then [they] say one week … now [it] is nothing,” he told Guardian Australia, referring to Australian Border Force officers. “They say we don’t have right to ask anything.”

He said he had previously been told by a specialist in Nauru his condition was “serious” but he still does not know when he will be able to receive care.

Arfin is one of at least 24 asylum seekers the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre said have been flown from Australia’s offshore detention regime on Nauru to two Australian facilities in early September – the Darwin facility and Villawood detention centre in New South Wales. Those who have been transferred to Australia are reluctant to speak to media for fear of jeopardising their medical treatment.

The federal government has quietly brought the asylum seekers to Australia despite the repeal of the medevac legislation last year, which made it easier for asylum seekers in offshore detention to access medical treatment in Australia.

A spokesman for the Department of Home Affairs said in a statement those who were transferred to Australia had to sign agreements acknowledging the transfer was only temporary.

“Subject to clinical need, transitory persons may be medically transferred to Australia for a temporary purpose under the Migration Act 1958,” the spokesman said.

“Transitory persons who were temporarily transferred to Australia for medical treatment signed transfer agreements acknowledging the temporary nature of their transfer.”

Close to 180 asylum seekers transferred under the now-repealed legislation are still being held in hotels and detention centres in Melbourne and Brisbane, facing an uncertain future over whether they will be transferred back to offshore detention or allowed to remain in Australia.

The deciding vote to repeal the legislation at the end of last year was the independent senator Jacqui Lambie, who this month threatened to reveal the terms of the deal she made with the prime minister, Scott Morrison, as part of the repeal.

At the time of the repeal, she said the government had agreed to improve medical treatment for those held in offshore detention.

Related: Most Australians back medevac as is or want it to be more humane – Essential poll

Polling conducted by Essential on behalf of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre between 30 September and 5 October found that 54% of Australians believe that once a person is found to be a refugee, they should be quickly resettled.

The survey was conducted online and based on 1,074 respondents.

ASRC’s director of advocacy and campaigns, Jana Favero, said the polling showed Australians wanted those remaining in offshore detention resettled. “The results show that the Morrison government is out of touch with community attitudes, because people want a compassionate, humane approach.”

Australians were more divided on whether asylum seekers should be allowed to settle in Australia while their refugee status is being determined, with 39% in favour, and 35% against.

*Name changed to protect his identity