Australia’s New Deportation Bill Puts 80,000 at Risk

More than 80,000 individuals in Australia face potential deportation under a new Labor bill, which has drawn comparisons to the UK’s unsuccessful Rwanda deportation plan, The Guardian reported yesterday.

The legislation allows the government to pay third countries to accept non-citizens on a removal pathway. This includes approximately 75,400 people without valid visas, 4,452 on bridging visa E, and others in various detention statuses.

During a Senate inquiry, officials confirmed that while the bill does not expand the eligible cohort for removal, it could impact many more than previously thought. Critics, including the Human Rights Law Centre, warn that it risks separating families and sending individuals to countries that may mistreat them. The bill’s provisions do not require removal countries to be signatories to the refugee convention, raising concerns about human rights violations. The home affairs minister emphasized community safety as a priority, stating the government aims to remove those without valid visas from Australia.