Greens senators condemned both main parties after the Government worked with the Coalition to pass tough new rules for asylum seekers who were released from indefinite detention by the High Court.
On Thursday night in the Senate, Sarah Hanson-Young, Nick McKim, David Shoebridge and Mehreen Faruqi criticized the federal government for passing the laws.
Last Wednesday, the High Court ruled that Australia’s indefinite detention system was unlawful, releasing 84 asylum seekers, with decisions still pending on up to 340.
Those released include a pedophile who raped a 10-year-old boy in Sydney’s west and a hitman who blew up a pregnant woman in Malaysia.
These criminals have served prison sentences for their crimes, but could not be deported for various reasons beyond the control of the Government.
Labor stridently opposed their release from detention, with Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil saying as a mother: “If there was anything in (her) power to keep these people in detention, (she) absolutely would do it.” “.
Labor rushed the legislation through both houses of Parliament, backing Coalition amendments that imposed even stricter standards on released asylum seekers.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the legislation was a “full-blown attack on refugees in this country”.
Greens leader Adam Bandt told the House that Labor is “letting Peter Dutton draft anti-refugee legislation”.
The new rules include the use of ankle monitoring bracelets, strict curfews, a ban on coming within 150 meters of daycare centers and mandatory minimum sentences of one year for violating the rules.
But Greens senators and party leader Adam Bandt criticized the legislation.
They said Labor was explicitly against mandatory minimum sentences in the party platform leading up to the last election, but had “caved” to Opposition amendments that meant asylum seekers would face such sentences.
Mr Bandt said: “Labor are dancing to the Liberals’ tune.” The Labor Party is letting Peter Dutton draft anti-refugee legislation.
Ms Hanson-Young said the legislation was a “full-blown attack on refugees in this country… It’s so disgusting to me that you (Labour) have no guts”.
He said it was an example of how Dutton dictated the government’s agenda.
It always suits you, doesn’t it, when you snuggle up with the Opposition, with Peter Dutton holding the whip here.
‘Peter Dutton is the one who is driving this government towards the exact path he wants.
“This is all under the whip of Peter Dutton, the nasty party leader.” (He later withdrew his comments about Mr. Dutton and his wickedness.)
Deputy Leader Senator Mehreen Faruqi of Victoria attacked “white Australia” and the treatment of asylum seekers.
Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi said “white Australia has never had any qualms about having one government for itself and another for people it considers second class.”
‘This will create an underclass of individuals who will not be judged by their actions but by their visa status.
“But white Australia has never been shy about having one rule for itself and another for people it considers second class.”
Mr McKim, a Tasmanian senator, said: “It is a dark and shameful day in the history of this parliament when the political duopoly in this place comes together… to trample on refugee rights, to demonize refugees, to divide our community and stoke fear and hatred towards refugees in our community.
“It’s an extremely sad day.”
But Immigration Minister Andrew Giles argued the legislation is a crucial step in keeping the community safer following the High Court decision.
‘This decision has significant implications for immigration enforcement and for the Government’s community safety obligations to which this bill responds, noting that we are still awaiting the court’s reasons and noting that further work will be needed in this regard. . ‘ he said.
“They allow the Government to provide appropriate and proportionate monitoring of this cohort while they are required to be in the Australian community.”
Education Minister Jason Clare told Sunrise on Friday that he had never seen Parliament respond so quickly to a High Court decision.
When asked about the cost of ankle monitoring, Education Minister Jason Clare said the measures were aimed at ensuring the safety of Australians.
“It’s not about money, it’s about safety,” he told Seven’s Sunrise on Friday.
‘The fact is that if they put these people in prison, it would cost five times as much.
‘If we had our way, these people would still be locked up. But that is not an option.
Dutton said that if he had been allowed to do so, those recently released would be back in detention and criticized the government for not acting faster, citing the pain of the victims.
‘They are crying. “These are rape victims, children as young as 10 who have been sexually abused,” he told Nine’s Today program on Friday.
“These are the worst people and they’re not even Australian citizens and that’s why they shouldn’t be in the community.”
The High Court has yet to publish the reasoning behind its decision to overturn a 20-year precedent.