Update on ‘unauthorised arrivals’ Bill

11.08.2006 | Andrew Cameron and Tracy Nodder | Briefing 052

The Migration Amendment (Designated Unauthorised Arrivals) Bill 2006 is due to be debated in the Senate next week, following its passage through the Lower House this week. If introduced, the new legislation would see all unauthorised arrivals sent to offshore detention centres for processing, even if they make it to mainland Australia. If found to be genuine refugees, these arrivals will be kept in offshore detention until a third country is found that indicates its willingness to accept them.

Reports are that several senators are still undecided regarding how they will vote in the Senate.

If you are opposed to this Bill, what can you do?

Be informed. Have a look at the Parliamentary website to get more information on the proposed Bill and what it might mean. See: http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au/piweb/browse.aspx?NodeID=69 and http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/legcon_ctte/migration_unauthorised_arrivals. The following website is worth your attention: http://www.ajustaustralia.com/home.php. If you have not seen some of our research on this issue, have a look at: http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/50_when_is_australia_not_australia.
Contact Senators, especially those who are undecided how they will vote. You can get a list of Senators and their email addresses from: http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/senators/email.asp. Also, the website http://www.ajustaustralia.com/home.php can give you some guidance.

(You may have heard recent reports of a Federal Government proposal to create a ‘floating detention centre’ for unauthorised arrivals and crews of boats fishing illegally in Australian waters. This proposal is unrelated to the above Bill. If the policy were implemented, it may be administered by the Australian Customs Service rather than the Department of Immigration. We will try to let you know more about this idea as it unfolds.)

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