Migration bill approved with crossbench support after senate battle | Australia news | Australia news | The GuardianMigration bill approved with crossbench support after senate battle | Australia news | Australia news | The Guardian










Close






Skip to main content

 









sign in








subscribe









search




jobs






more


from the guardian:


jobs


change edition:



switch to the UK edition


switch to the AU edition







US edition




switch to the UK edition




switch to the Australia edition













The Guardian


Winner of the Pulitzer prize











home


›
world


›
australia




UK


europe


americas


asia


middle east


africa










home




US




world
selected




opinion




sports




soccer




tech




arts




lifestyle




fashion




business




money




travel




environment







browse all sections
close







 











Australian immigration and asylum



Australia migrant bill approved with crossbench support after senate battle









Crossbench senators say amendments to controversial legislation will give hope to thousands of asylum seekers














'The crossbench shouldn’t have been put in this position, but we have,' said Motoring Enthusiast party senator Ricky Muir, who support the bill. Photograph: Mike Bowers



Australian Associated Press


Thursday 4 December 2014 16.20 EST







Share on Facebook







Share on Twitter







Share via Email







Share on LinkedIn







Share on Google+







Share on WhatsApp
















Crossbench senators have helped to pass substantial changes to Australia’s migration laws after a long and heated debate that stretched into Friday morning.

After the Senate vote the bill proceeded to the government-dominated House of Representatives on Friday morning and was passed.
Asylum-seeker advocates have criticised the bill, which contains measures including the reintroduction of temporary protection visas, the redefinition of who can be deemed a refugee, and places limitations on legal avenues of appeal.
Labor and the Australian Greens opposed the legislation, but the government had the crucial six crossbench votes it needed.
It was a tough call for many crossbench senators, who negotiated improvements to the bill, but still considered it far from perfect.
Senator Ricky Muir – who was the final undecided vote – described his anguish after speaking over the phone with crying staff from a Christmas Island detention centre.
“The crossbench shouldn’t have been put in this position, but we have,” the Motoring Enthusiast party senator said.
Independent senator Nick Xenophon also wrestled with the decision, but like Muir believed the amendments would give hope to thousands of refugees stuck in detention.
In return for their support – and that of the Palmer United party – the government agreed to quickly process the claims of 30,000 asylum seekers languishing in detention centres across Australia.
PUP leader Clive Palmer said that backing the legislation meant 1,500 asylum seekers – including 468 children – would soon be leaving Christmas Island.
But Labor and the Greens accused the government of using those children as a bargaining chip, arguing that the immigration minister, Scott Morrison, could release them at any time, if he wished.
Independent senator Jacqui Lambie – who opposed the legislation – attacked the government for keeping children detained for so long.
“These kids have been sitting there for 15 months, and you want a pat on the back? You’ve got to be kidding yourselves,” she said.
Particular concerns were raised about the return of TPVs, a Howard-era policy condemned by refugee advocates and repealed by the previous Labor government.
The government also agreed to increase Australia’s humanitarian intake of refugees and to give those on bridging visas the right to work.



Topics



Australian immigration and asylum




Australian politics




Palmer United party




Labor party




Australian Greens



More…



Ricky Muir




Nick Xenophon








Share on Facebook







Share on Twitter







Share via Email







Share on LinkedIn







Share on Google+







Share on WhatsApp


























View all comments >







comments 
Sign in
or create your Guardian account to join the discussion.

This discussion is closed for comments.

We’re doing some maintenance right now. You can still read comments, but please come back later to add your own.


Commenting has been disabled for this account (why?)







Order by 


newest


oldest




Show 25


25


50


100




Threads 


collapsed


expanded


unthreaded





Loading comments… Trouble loading?




View more comments







 






more on this story














Scott Morrison: Labor and Greens ‘irrelevant and impotent’ on border protection – video

The immigration minister says he won't take any moral lectures from Labor or the Greens in the wake of new asylum seeker laws passing the Senate



Published: 4 Dec 2014




Scott Morrison: Labor and Greens ‘irrelevant and impotent’ on border protection – video












Ricky Muir ‘forced into a corner’ on Senate asylum seeker vote – video

Senator Ricky Muir says he wrestled with the decision of backing changes to asylum seeker laws in the senate



Published: 4 Dec 2014




Ricky Muir ‘forced into a corner’ on Senate asylum seeker vote – video












Analysis Ricky Muir vote reinstates TPVs and hands Coalition hollow asylum victory

New legislation reintroduces temporary protection visas, strips rights of appeal and gives the government greater powers to detain and remove asylum seekers at sea – but delivers very little in return. It does not remove children from detention or increase the humanitarian intake, despite the promises



Published: 4 Dec 2014




Ricky Muir vote reinstates TPVs and hands Coalition hollow asylum victory












Analysis Senate gives Scott Morrison unchecked control over asylum seekers’ lives

Ben Doherty

The Senate crossbench has supported the passing of broad new migration and maritime powers – but what exactly do they mean for the minister, asylum seekers and Australia’s obligations under international law?



Published: 4 Dec 2014







Senate gives Scott Morrison unchecked control over asylum seekers’ lives














Four asylum seekers on Manus sew lips together as part of mass hunger strike




Published: 3 Dec 2014




Four asylum seekers on Manus sew lips together as part of mass hunger strike








Clive Palmer speaks in support of new visa for asylum seekers – video




Published: 4 Dec 2014




Clive Palmer speaks in support of new visa for asylum seekers – video








Police prevent asylum seeker accused of rape being deported before trial – lawyer




Published: 3 Dec 2014




Police prevent asylum seeker accused of rape being deported before trial – lawyer








Palmer United party backs asylum bill after Scott Morrison concessions




Published: 3 Dec 2014




Palmer United party backs asylum bill after Scott Morrison concessions

















popular












 








The Guardian






back to top














home




US




world
selected




opinion




sports




soccer




tech




arts




lifestyle




fashion




business




money




travel




environment







all sections
close







home




US




world
selected




UK




europe




americas




asia




middle east




africa




australia
selected






opinion




sports




soccer




MLS




NFL




MLB




NBA




NHL






soccer




live scores




tables




competitions




results




fixtures




clubs






tech




games






arts




movies




tv & radio




music




books




art & design




stage




classical






lifestyle




food




health




love & sex




family




women




home & garden






fashion




business




markets




companies






money




travel




USA




europe




UK






environment




development




cities






science




media




crosswords




video











World




›
Australia




›
Australian immigration and asylum








jobs

subscribe
all topics
all contributors

info and resources

contact us

feedback

complaints & corrections
terms & conditions
privacy policy
cookie policy
securedrop


© 2015 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.






















 
