Liberty Victoria has been invited to appear before the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee to give evidence on amendments proposed by the Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional Processing Cohort) Bill 2019. This Bill is aimed at those people who arrived in Australia by boat seeking Australia’s protection, and who were subsequently transferred by the Australian government to Nauru and Papua New Guinea to have their protection claims assessed under those countries laws. The Bill seeks to impose a lifetime ban for these people on obtaining a visa to travel to or remain in Australia.
Liberty Victoria strongly opposes the proposed new laws and will argue that they are unnecessary, disproportionate, punitive, and run contrary to basic principles of family unity and the rule of law. Liberty will also contend that the laws would have significant adverse impacts on those affected and their families, many of who are highly vulnerable, and cause irreparable harm to Australia’s international reputation.
Liberty is due to give evidence before the Committee on Thursday 22 August from 11:45AM and can be viewed by live-stream here:
(click the link for the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee’s inquiry)
Liberty’s submission to the Committee is accessible here: