Opposition moves to address 'unintended consequences' in Labor's deportation bill
The Coalition is considering a number of amendments to Labor's contentious deportation bill, including affording the foreign minister the power to veto blanket bans on visa applications from designated countries.
The Coalition is looking at proposing amendments to Labor’s controversial deportation bill which would give Foreign Minister Penny Wong the power of veto over blanket bans on visa applications from entire countries.
The Albanese government’s attempt to rush through the bill — which would make it easier to deport foreign nationals in immigration detention — failed during the last sitting of parliament when the Coalition teamed up with crossbenchers to send it off to an inquiry. If the government was to agree to amendments moved by the opposition, it would give Anthony Albanese a reprieve on border security which has been a political headache for the prime minister for months.
The Coalition has previously suggested the bill could create a number of “unintended consequences”, including causing people to attempt to get to Australia by boat again. Of particular concern is the proposed new power for Immigration Minister Andrew Giles to ban all visa applications from a particular nation by designating it a “removal concern country”.
Under the current version of the bill, the immigration minister would only need to “consult” the prime minister and the foreign minister before making a designation.
