I don’t think we’ll live to see this.
First Trump planned it, now ALBO is pushing ahead with mass deportations from Australia
- Up to 80,000 people could be deported
- Proposed amendments to Migration Act
Up to 80,000 people of various visa categories could be potentially removed to third countries by the Albanese government’s migration bill that legal experts, advocates and former refugees have lambasted.
The Albanese government has not detailed which countries it has been in discussions with in a bill that passed the House of Representatives and was examined in a Senate inquiry on Thursday.
The proposed amendments to the Migration Act seeks to deport non-citizens, including not just those convicted of crimes, and to pay those third countries for their part in the removals regime.
It would also grant extensive immunity to government officials and those in third countries involved with the removals as well as reversing protection findings for refugees.
The amendments come after a landmark ruling found indefinite immigration detention was unlawful, triggering the release of some 200 non-citizens with varying criminal offences.
Released immigration detainees, known as the NZYQ cohort, were strapped with ankle monitors and slapped with curfews.
The High Court struck down earlier in November in a case brought by a stateless Eritrean refugee known as YBFZ, ruling it punitive and an overreach by the government which prompted the government to rush this bill.
Under questioning from Liberal senator James Paterson, Department of Home Affairs officials revealed that 10 people had had their ankle monitors and curfews reimposed.
Up to 80,000 people of various visa categories could be potentially removed to third countries by the Albanese government’s migration bill. Mr Albanese is pictured
President-elect Donald Trump (pictured) has confirmed his intention to initiate a mass deportation effort as soon as he takes office on January 20, 2025
This was followed by Greens senator David Shoebridge pushing first assistant secretary of immigration compliance Michael Thomas also to ascertain which categories of visa holders who were not citizens would be affected.
Mr Thomas said that 4452 people on Bridging Visa E, 986 in immigration detention, 193 in community detention, 246 on Bridging Visa R from the NZYQ cohort, a further 96 individuals also on the same visa and potentially ‘a fluid cohort’ of up to 75,400 people could be included.
Home Affairs secretary Stephanie Foster was grilled about who would be affected by the legislation.