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Asylum Seekers and Refugees

We can't 'outsource' our moral obligations to these people

Events on Manus Island have graphically and tragically brought to the attention of the Australian public the inappropriateness of the current arrangements for the regional processing of asylum seekers. I have been troubled by the loss of life and the injury that has occurred on Manus Island over this...

Category, Opinion
Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Security rethink can protect refugee rights (2012)

The following opinion pieces have been published by the President and Commissioners. Reproduction of the opinion pieces must include reference to where the opinion piece was originally published.

Category, Opinion
Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional Processing Cohort) Bill 2019

1. Introduction The Commission makes this submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee (the Committee) in relation to the Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional Processing Cohort) Bill 2019 (Cth) (the Bill) introduced by the Australian Government. The...

Category, Submission
Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2017

The Commission considers that the broad application of restrictive measures such as those proposed in the Bill may lead to unreasonable limitations on human rights in some circumstances. In particular, the proposed power for the Minister to declare items prohibited in immigration detention facilities may lead to restrictions on the possession of items that do not present a significant risk to safety and security.

Category, Submission
Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Migration Amendment (Repairing Medical Transfers) Bill 2019

Transferring asylum seekers to third countries does not release Australia from its obligations under international human rights law. The Commission considers that the removal of the medical transfer provisions by this Bill would be inconsistent with Australia’s international human rights obligations, specifically the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.

Category, Submission
Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Migration Amendment (Repairing Medical Transfers) Bill 2019

Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow   23 September 2019   Senator Amanda Stoker Chair Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 By email: legcon.sen@aph.gov.au Dear Chair Migration Amendment (Repairing Medical Transfers) Bill 2019 I...

Category, Submission