March 26, 2024
Shadow immigration minister Dan Tehan has hit out at Labor’s handling of the immigration detention system after the government surprised the Coalition with another batch legislation on Tuesday morning.
According to the new bill’s explanatory memorandum, the amendments will address circumstances where non-citizens with no valid reason to remain in Australia who had not already left voluntarily are “not cooperating” with efforts to remove them.
It is understood the government will attempt to pass the bill before the end of this week. Meanwhile, a High Court hearing is set for April for the case known as ASF17.
The case involves an Iranian man who is allegedly refusing to cooperate with authorities trying to deport him. He has argued he is likely to face persecution in Iran should he return.
If the High Court chooses to rule in his favour, it is believed the result could potentially trigger more detainees to be released.
The opposition was reportedly handed the new legislation to deal with those considered to be uncooperative detainees at 7:30am on Tuesday and then offered a 20-minute briefing.
Mr Tehan accused the government of rushing through the bill at a press conference in Canberra shortly after.
"Everything this government does with regards to immigration detention is rushed, is chaotic, is botched and there is a complete and utter lack of transparency," Mr Tehan said.
"We will be asking the government for a hearing tonight in the senate regarding this legislation.
"We want to do everything we can to support the government in doing the job it is failing to do in keeping Australians safe but we also have to be mindful of unintended consequences."
Senator James Paterson spoke to Sky News Australia about the legislation later the same day.
"If this was the first time, or only time this happened maybe that would be reasonable but this is now the fourth time this has happened," he said.
"And some of those pervious iterations of legislation are right now facing challenges in the courts over their constitutionality.
"So, we are concerned again about this rushed process, shabby process from the government that doesn’t seem to know what it’s doing when it comes to border protection and national security."
It remains unclear whether the government will receive enough support to pass the bill.
Labor will be aiming to get the legislation through before the House of Representatives breaks for Easter at the end of this week.
