Minister for Home Affairs fails to make the case for expanded powers in detention

Several members of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee have today found that the Minister for Home Affairs, Peter Dutton has failed to justify the need for sweeping new powers that would undermine transparency in immigration detention.

While Federal Government Committee members endorsed the Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2020, remaining Committee members raised serious concerns over the broad nature of the powers that would be given to the Minister for Home Affairs and his officers. Committee members found the proposed powers are excessive and unjustified, and recognised that mobile phones play a vital role in accountability in detention.

David Burke, Legal Director at the Human Rights Law Centre, said Parliament must reject this unnecessary and harmful grab for increased powers. 

“Abuse thrives behind closed doors. At its heart, these proposed laws are an attempt by the Government to hide what is really happening in immigration detention.”

“Mobile phones have allowed people in detention to shine a light on their mistreatment. By attempting to ban phones, Minister Dutton is yet again trying to hide the Government’s cruel treatment of refugees and people seeking asylum from the public.” 

The Senate Committee report comes a day after the Federal Government announced plans to reopen the detention centre on Christmas Island, which is located 2,700km from Perth.

“Because of COVID-19 restrictions, people in detention have been unable to see their loved ones in person for months,” Burke said. “Mobile phones have become an even more important lifeline to people’s family, friends and legal support. If people are transferred thousands of kilometres away from the mainland, without mobile phones, they will be completely isolated.”

“Instead of fighting to remove this crucial support, Minister Dutton should be working to urgently release people from detention into safe housing in the community, where they can self-isolate and follow public health advice.”

Read the Human Rights Law Centre’s submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry here.
Read the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee report here.

Media contact:

Michelle Bennett, Communications Director, Human Rights Law Centre, 0419 100 519