'Grossly disturbing': Australia refers invasive search of women at Qatar airport to police

An incident at Doha's Hamad airport, where Australian women were taken off a plane and subjected to an invasive search after the discovery of a newborn baby abandoned in the terminal, has been referred to Australian federal police, Canberra says.

Thirteen Australians were among the women on the flight run by state-owned Qatar Airways who were forced to undergo a medical examination in an ambulance after the newborn was found in an airport bathroom, Australian television network Seven News said.

All adult women on the flight, regardless of age, were made to disembark for the examination which occurred earlier this month, two of the women told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

On Monday, Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne confirmed the women had contacted the Australian government at the time of the incident, adding that it had taken up the matter with Qatar's ambassador.

The "extraordinary incident" had also been reported to the Australian Federal Police, she said.

"This is a grossly disturbing, offensive, concerning set of events," Payne told media. 

"It is not something I have ever heard of occurring in my life, in any context. We have made our views very clear to the Qatari authorities."

In a statement, the Australian federal police said they were aware of the incident, and were engaging with the department of foreign affairs and trade.

Australia expects report this week

In a statement, Hamad International Airport, which is part of the Qatar Airways Group, said the newborn found abandoned on 2 October had not been identified and was receiving medical care.

"Medical professionals expressed concern to officials about the health and welfare of a mother who had just given birth and requested she be located prior to departing [the airport]," it said.

"Individuals who had access to the specific area of the airport where the newborn infant was found were asked to assist in the query."

Australia expects a report this week from authorities in Qatar, Payne said.

There were significant concerns over the issue of securing consent for the medical examinations, she said, adding, "These are very private and personal matters."

In a statement, the Australian government said reports indicated treatment "beyond circumstances in which the women could give free and informed consent".

The women received medical and psychological support on arrival in Sydney, and began Australia's mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine required for coronavirus border control, a spokesman for health authorities in New South Wales state told Reuters.