Australia Enacts Harsh New Anti-Migration Laws

The Australian government has recently enacted new legislation that expands offshore detention and allows for harsher penalties against noncitizens, including asylum seekers, Human Rights Watch reported.

The laws, introduced through three bills, enable the government to pay third countries to accept noncitizens, including recognized refugees, without requiring those countries to adhere to the Refugee Convention.

The legislation empowers authorities to impose prison sentences of one to five years for recognized refugees who refuse deportation. This change effectively criminalizes administrative violations related to immigration status. A recent Senate inquiry indicated that approximately 80,000 noncitizens could be at risk of deportation under these new laws.

Additionally, the immigration minister’s powers have been broadened to reverse immigration decisions and revoke refugee status. Concerns have been raised about potential violations of the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to countries where they face persecution.

The laws also grant immigration detention authorities increased powers to search detainees and seize personal items such as phones. Human rights organizations have criticized these developments, arguing that they undermine Australia’s obligations under international law and further criminalize the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers.