Australia Seeks Lifetime Ban On Asylum Seekers

In late October, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull proposed legislation that would prevent asylum seekers arriving by boat from ever entering Australia. His proposal will have far reaching effects for Australia’s offshore processing centers, Manus Island and Nauru. Although the Turnbull government has always maintained a hardline anti-immigration policy, the administration’s lifetime ban on all visas, including for tourism, business, or family and medical reasons, has gone farther than ever.

“[The proposed legislation] will send the strongest possible signal to those who are seeking to persuade persons currently on Nauru and in Manus that the Australian government will change its policy and allow them to settle here,” Turnbull said at a news conference in Sydney. “It is incredibly important that we send the clearest message.”

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton explained that a significant portion of the new legislation blocks advocates within Australia from marrying asylees and bringing them to Australia on partner visas. "That is not acceptable. We are not going to allow arrangements that would subvert the program and the success we've had,” Dutton said.

The proposed legislation must pass through the Senate, where the government does not have a majority vote. Therefore, the government must earn the support of the opposition Labor Party or independent lawmakers. In the House of Representatives, the government holds a one-seat majority.  

Refugee advocates worldwide have already expressed harsh criticism of the new law and the domestic opposition party. Senator Richard Di Natale, leader of the left-leaning Australian Greens, pointed out that many asylees already have families in Australia. He called upon independent legislators to reject the proposal. “They will be prevented from seeing their parents and from seeing brothers and sisters under this policy,” Di Natale said.  

The opposition party demonstrated a hesitant attitude towards the legislation, citing the need for further examination. “It seems ridiculous to me that a genuine refugee…is banned from visiting Australia as a tourist, businessman or businesswoman 40 years down track,” said Bill Shorten, the Leader of the opposition Labor Party.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Francois Crépeau, will spend 18 days in Australia and Nauru, where many asylees are detained indefinitely. He canceled his planned visit last year due to a lack of government assistance.

"This is an opportunity for me to understand how Australia manages its overall migration policies, and their impact on the human rights of migrants," Crépeau said, according to Reuters.