In a startling development, more than 80,000 individuals in Australia are at risk of being deported to third countries under a controversial new migration bill. The proposed legislation, which has drawn comparisons to the United Kingdom’s failed Rwanda deportation plan, grants the Australian government authority to pay other nations to accept unlawful non-citizens who are on a removal pathway.
Thousands Affected, From Detention to Community
During a Senate inquiry hearing, officials from the Department of Home Affairs shed light on the staggering scope of those who could potentially be impacted by this bill. The at-risk population spans a wide range, including:
- An estimated 75,400 people living in the Australian community without a valid visa
- 4,452 individuals on bridging visa E, allowing them to make arrangements to leave Australia
- 986 people currently held in immigration detention
- 193 in community detention
- 246 on bridging visa R, released due to a high court ruling against indefinite detention
- An additional 96 bridging visa R holders predating the court decision
While department officials emphasized that many of the 80,000 could voluntarily return to their home countries, as thousands have done in the past, the sheer scale of those potentially facing deportation to third nations has raised significant concerns.
Human Rights Advocates Sound the Alarm
Human rights organizations have swiftly denounced the bill, warning of dire consequences for those who could be sent away. Josephine Langbien, associate legal director of the Human Rights Law Centre, cautioned that the legislation allows for the separation of families, condemning people to “permanent exile in third countries against their will.”
“We don’t know which countries will be included. We don’t know how those countries will treat people who are sent there. They could be detained arbitrarily, denied medical treatment, violently attacked or killed, or sent back to their country of origin,” Langbien warned, emphasizing that such scenarios are far from far-fetched based on past experiences.
Concerns Over Lack of Safeguards and International Obligations
Critics have pointed out glaring issues with the bill, including the absence of any requirement for the third countries receiving deportees to be signatories to the refugee convention. Carina Ford, chair of the Law Council’s migration committee, drew parallels to the UK’s failed Rwandan removal deal, suggesting that it may be “easier to deal with countries” that have not signed on to such conventions.
While Home Affairs officials asserted that Australia remains committed to its international law obligations and would not return people to countries where they face harm, the bill itself contains no explicit limitations on which nations can be paid to accept non-citizens. This lack of safeguards has fueled fears that the fundamental rights and safety of those deported may be at grave risk.
Political Pushback and Prioritizing Removal
The introduction of this bill comes on the heels of a high court ruling in November, which found that regulations imposing ankle bracelets and curfews on people released from indefinite detention were unlawful. In response, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke not only remade the regulations but also put forth this legislation to bolster the government’s deportation powers.
“This government’s first priority is community safety … the first priority is not ankle bracelets or detention for these people, our first priority is: we don’t want them in Australia at all,” Burke declared to the House of Representatives.
However, since the minister reinstated the regulations, only 48 people have been reassessed, with a mere 10 having ankle bracelets or curfews reapplied. Officials revealed that even among the 38 individuals who avoided such conditions were sex offenders and child sex offenders, raising questions about the effectiveness and consistency of the government’s approach.
An Uncertain Future for Thousands
As this controversial migration bill makes its way through the legislative process, the fate of over 80,000 individuals hangs in the balance. The prospect of mass deportations to undisclosed third countries, without clear protections or oversight, has sparked outrage among human rights defenders and raised profound concerns about Australia’s commitment to its international obligations.
For the thousands caught in the crosshairs of this policy – from those languishing in detention to others scraping by on temporary visas – the future is shrouded in uncertainty and fear. As the nation grapples with this divisive issue, one thing remains clear: the human lives at stake must not be forgotten amidst the political fray.
