When it comes to the business of politicising the right to asylum, no country jettisons the key principles of international law better than Australia, argues Binoy Kampmark.
Migration Act
The Refugee Action Collective (Victoria) discussed the “God” powers of the immigration minister, so named because of their unlimited nature. Chris Slee reports.
The proposed Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2019, which is currently before parliament, will significantly extend the powers of the character test, lowering the threshold for those who might be rejected on character grounds, writes Joanna Psaros.
Paul Gregoire looks at new changes to the Migration Act, which allow the federal government to lock people in immigration detention indefinitely.
Alan Tudge says "foreign actors" are "straining" the country's social cohesion. Alex Bainbridge argues that if he was seriously worried, he could start by looking in the mirror.
The 46th Parliament of Australia opened on July 2 to finance minister Mathias Cormann waving about the Tax Relief So Working Australians Keep More of Their Money Bill. One might be forgiven for translating the legislation’s title to “progressively robbing the poor to give to the rich”.
The immigration department has confirmed it wrongly sent two Australian citizens to immigration detention after cancelling their visas.
The two, who were born in New Zealand and hold dual citizenship, were taken to immigration detention after their visas were cancelled following their release from prison.
One was taken to Christmas Island, while the other was detained onshore.
Under section 501 of the Migration Act, a non-citizen's visa must be cancelled if they serve a jail term of more than 12 months.
The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and the Australian Maritime Officer's Union (AMOU) have hailed a High Court victory that will protect local jobs on offshore oil and gas projects and curb the exploitation of foreign workers.
The High Court unanimously ruled on August 31 against the federal government's decision to exempt workers on vessels in the offshore oil and gas industry from visa requirements. The unions argued that the exemptions provided an incentive for companies to hire foreigners on lower wages and undercut safety standards and conditions.
