Deportation Bill delayed
NEWS | Migration Justice
The Albanese Government is trying to rush through dangerous new laws that will criminalise and punish people because of their visa status. Thanks to unrelenting community pressure, voting on the Bill has been delayed until at least 24 June.
No one should face jail time simply for refusing to leave their home.
In May, the Human Rights Law Centre’s Migration Justice team was in Canberra to stand with advocates Farhad Bandesh and Piume Kaneshan, as they spoke out against the Deportation Bill and told Senators what it would mean for them and their families.
If passed, the Bill would allow people to be jailed for five years if they did not cooperate with their own deportation – no matter how long they have been in Australia or whether they have family here. People could be stripped of their refugee status and returned to harm. The law would also allow the Minister for Immigration extraordinary powers to impose a Trump-style travel ban by preventing visa applications from entire countries of people.
The Albanese Government wanted to rush these laws through the Senate last week. But thanks to unrelenting community pressure, voting on the Bill has been delayed until at least 24 June.
If the Bill passes, the devastating impacts of these laws will be felt by tens of thousands of people across the Australian community.
The Senate inquiry into the Bill received hundreds of submissions from community members and groups, legal and human rights organisations and even former Department of Immigration officials – all of which opposed the Bill.
Farhad Bandesh, an artist, musician and wine-maker who was detained on Manus Island, spoke up against the Bill:
“I was detained on Manus Island for six years, and then detained for another two years in Melbourne, after I was transferred to Australia for medical treatment.
I was locked in a hotel with other refugees during the COVID lockdowns. We were kept in our rooms, with windows that didn’t open, and not allowed outdoors.
Finally, in 2020, I was released. I moved into a house with my loving partner Jennell. I started to make wines and work on my art. I started to rebuild my life from scratch.
If this law is passed, the Minister could give me a direction to leave Australia and put me in jail for five years if I refused.
I left my land and my family once - I think that is enough. I will not stop fighting for my right to stay in my home, and in my community.”
— Farhad Bandesh
Hundreds of people have spoken up with one voice to oppose the Bill, and the government is feeling the heat. Over the coming weeks, we will work tirelessly to build pressure on the government to abandon this Bill and end this attack on migrant and refugee communities.
Image: Piumetharshika Kaneshan, Refugee WAVE and Sanmati Verma with Farhad Bandesh, a refugee advocate who was on Manus Island.