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Morrison looks set to get temporary protection visas for asylum seekers Morrison looks set to get temporary protection visas for asylum seekers
(about 3 hours later)
The immigration minister, Scott Morrison, looks set to succeed with a fresh bid to introduce temporary protection visas for asylum seekers in Australia after reaching a deal with Clive Palmer. The immigration minister, Scott Morrison, looks set to introduce temporary protection visas (TPVs) for asylum seekers in Australia after reaching a deal with Clive Palmer as part of a series of sweeping changes to asylum laws.
Morrison introduced a bill on Thursday that seeks to create a new regime of temporary protection visas, where protection can be granted for only three years. Additionally, the bill will create a “safe haven enterprise visa” lasting five years where asylum seekers must work in designated regional areas for a time. Morrison introduced a bill on Thursday that makes significant changes to the assessment process for asylum seekers and visa classes, and also amends laws that would affect the government’s power to intercept and turn back asylum-seeker vessels. The new bill will also seek to expressly alter the way the refugee convention operates in Australian law.
Morrison said asylum seekers “will be required to confine themselves to designated regions … or an employer in a region can request to be designated by a national self designation process”. The Palmer United party leader, Clive Palmer, has written a letter to the minister pledging his support for the bill, which puts the government a step further to securing its passage through the Senate with the support of PUP senators.
Asylum seekers who obtain this visa might be able to apply for further visa classes afterwards, but Morrison stressed they would not be eligible for permanent protection. The key measures include:
The Greens and Labor have slammed the push to reintroduce temporary protection visas. But Labor also said it supported the new safe haven visas if it allowed a “pathway to citizenship”.
Temporary protection visas have been heavily criticised by immigration experts, who say they create uncertainty and pose additional safety risks for asylum seekers who may ultimately be sent home.Temporary protection visas have been heavily criticised by immigration experts, who say they create uncertainty and pose additional safety risks for asylum seekers who may ultimately be sent home.
The government has attempted to introduce temporary protection visas several times in the past 12 months, but failed to gain the support of crossbenchers or Labor. The new “safe haven visas” would allow asylum seekers who meet a series of conditions and work in a regional area for three and a half years to potentially apply for further visas beyond this point.
However Clive Palmer, whose Palmer United party’s votes are crucial in the Senate, is now backing Morrison. At a press conference in Brisbane he championed the new “enterprise” visa. Morrison said asylum seekers “will be required to confine themselves to designated regions ... or an employer in a region can request to be designated by a national self designation process”.
However, it is unclear how many of these visas will be granted each year. When asked whether there would be a cap on the number of visas he responded: “We haven’t considered whether a cap might be necessary. The flow of people will depend on the assessment process and how many people are found to be refugees.”
The Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said it was a “staggering package” of legislation that would have dire outcomes for many asylum seekers.
“Today we’ve seen the government finally reveal 300 page piece of legislation that would have to be one of the most cruellest packages this parliament has ever seen,” she said.
“We see scrapping of references to the refugee convention in Australian law, we see laws keeping babies born in detention effectively stateless and of course the reintroduction of temporary protection visas.”
The Labor immigration spokesman, Richard Marles, reiterated that Labor did not support temporary protection visas but he added that if the safe haven visas allowed a pathway to citizenship then this was a welcome change.
“Temporary protection visas do not work … they don’t work as a deterrent,” he said.
“In relation to the temporary safe haven enterprise visas from the minister’s press conference today it would appear that a pathway to citizenship is being provided.”
He added: “If that is the case of itself it is a good thing. But this represents a humiliating backdown by this minister at the behest of Clive Palmer.”
Marles refused to be drawn on whether Labor would support the changes to the Maritime Powers Act, which would facilitate turn-back operations by the federal government.
There is an upcoming high court challenge to the interception and detention of 157 asylum seekers who were kept on board the Ocean Protector for over a month.
“We will be seeking independent expert legal advice in relation to what this legislation means, and we will be seeking a briefing from the government about exactly what they are trying to do with the legislation in this area,” he said.
The changes that would affect babies born in detention would have retrospective effect to children born in detention. There has been a series of legal challenges brought on behalf of babies born in detention, arguing that they should not be considered unauthorised maritime arrivals under the migration act.
When questioned on whether Labor supported these changes, Marles said: “As a matter of principle we’ve never supported retrospective legislation … It is obviously something one seeks to avoid.”
The reintroduction of TPVs would be viewed by Morrison and the Coalition as a major political victory. The government has attempted to introduce temporary protection visas several times in the past 12 months, but failed to gain the support of crossbenchers or Labor.
However, Palmer, whose party’s votes are crucial in the Senate, is now backing Morrison. At a press conference in Brisbane he championed the new “enterprise” visa.
“With the arrangements that we have had with the government we’ll see 1,550 people freed from Christmas Island and, more importantly, we’ll see the introduction of a new safe haven enterprise visa, which we have worked together with the government,” he said.“With the arrangements that we have had with the government we’ll see 1,550 people freed from Christmas Island and, more importantly, we’ll see the introduction of a new safe haven enterprise visa, which we have worked together with the government,” he said.
“A safe haven enterprise visa will allow people to come to Australia for an initial period of five years, and will give them the opportunity to work, provided they go to a remote location, or a location that needs labour.“A safe haven enterprise visa will allow people to come to Australia for an initial period of five years, and will give them the opportunity to work, provided they go to a remote location, or a location that needs labour.
“There are many areas and many communities in our country where we want get labour, where we need people to help us in our economy. So we’ll be taking people away from being dependents of the commonwealth, to being taxpayers to contribute to our society.” “There are many areas and many communities in our country where we want to get labour, where we need people to help us in our economy. So we’ll be taking people away from being dependents of the commonwealth, to being taxpayers to contribute to our society.”
When asked whether asylum seekers on these visas could gain any types of visas, Palmer said: “That depends on whether they keep the terms of their visas.When asked whether asylum seekers on these visas could gain any types of visas, Palmer said: “That depends on whether they keep the terms of their visas.
“I can’t think of any reason why we shouldn’t have put this forward, because it’s only good for Australia.”“I can’t think of any reason why we shouldn’t have put this forward, because it’s only good for Australia.”
On Wednesday the opposition immigration spokesman, Richard Marles, signalled Labor would support a “pathway to protection” scheme. It is not yet clear whether the particular terms of the scheme proposed will gain its support.