2024-11-28
Three of the most far-right wing and anti-migrant and anti-refugee laws in a generation were just passed by the Albanese Labor Government and Peter Dutton’s Coalition.
The Trump-style Travel ban, the ability to bribe any country to take people forcibly removed from Australia and the banning of essential items like phones in detention are all deeply offensive.
Under these laws, a woman who fled a country like Iran because she feared for her life could be forced to a third country with no protections, or face mandatory immigration detention. This can include forcible separation from her children even if they are Australian citizens.
When in detention she can now be strip searched and searched by dogs, without a warrant, and the Minister can take essential items off her like a mobile phone removing her contact with family, her lawyers and the media.
This is part of a race to the bottom on migration between Dutton and Albanese, one where everyone but the hard right loses.
Senator David Shoebridge, Greens Spokesperson on Immigration: “What we have learnt very clearly is that if you are worried about a Dutton Government, don’t vote Labor because they keep voting to empower him.
“The Albanese Government surrendered political leadership to Peter Dutton, handing him everything he wants in terms of cruelty to migrants and asylum seekers.
“Labor’s surrender is so complete we are seeing Coalition MPs openly celebrating how they are running Labor’s immigration policy. Labor has been humiliated.
“People know that the laws passed today are wrong, and going forward millions of Australians will be asking themselves why they ever voted for Labor?
“The Greens repeatedly offered Labor an alternative to be better, and to protect Australia’s multicultural values, but instead they chose to work with Peter Dutton’s Coalition.
“The Greens will never stop fighting for a fairer country where people are treated equally no matter where they were born or the colour of their skin."