Reported from the source

Quick summary: Australia’s Labor government is introducing urgent amendments to immigration laws, allowing the Home Affairs Minister to block certain temporary visa holders from travelling to Australia. Prompted by global circumstances, including the Middle East war, the measure aims to prevent individuals from seeking permanent residency after arriving on temporary visas, thereby protecting the integrity of the immigration system. The legislation, which has in-principle support from the Coalition, would enable an ‘arrival control determination’ with the written agreement of the prime minister and the minister in charge of immigration.

Assistant Citizenship Minister Julian Hill introduced the amendments on Tuesday. This occurred hours after Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke facilitated asylum applications for five members of the Iranian women’s soccer team. Under the proposed law, Burke could issue an ‘arrival control determination’ to prevent temporary visa holders from specific regions from visiting Australia if global circumstances change, particularly if there is concern they might overstay their visa or apply for protection. While the bill itself does not name specific countries, a briefing document circulated to MPs and senators references the situation in the Middle East, citing an example of Iranian tourists. Labor describes these changes as closing loopholes in current immigration laws and states that guard rails will be included in the new rules. Hill emphasized that the changes are vital for the government to respond appropriately to rapidly changing global circumstances, such as those in the Middle East, which might impact whether temporary visa holders fulfill their temporary purpose in Australia. Shadow Foreign Minister Ted O’Brien stated the Coalition’s in-principle support for the bill, seeing ‘no major hurdles’ to its passage, while independent MP Andrew Wilkie registered his objection. Separately, Burke confirmed the asylum applications from the Iranian women’s soccer team, stating they are welcome and safe in Australia, with the same opportunity available to other team members.

Source: www.theguardian.com