A person in immigration detention cannot be released just because they fear persecution in their birth country,the federal government will argue in a High Court challenge.
Diaspora communities say they were blindsided by proposed laws that could ban foreigners from countries such as Iran and South Sudan from entering Australia.
Stephanie Foster declined to detail discussions,saying the relationship between ministers and staff “depends on being able to have trusted conversations”.
Minister Clare O’Neil was twice pursued by cameras,was asked the same question seven times and the government’s rushed bill was blocked by the opposition and the crossbench on Wednesday.
This was a humiliation for a government that wants to project a sense of command and control. Facing political pressure on borders,Labor threw good process overboard.
One of the nation’s most powerful public servants blindsided her ministers by releasing the criminal records of former detainees after the landmark High Court decision.
The freeing of the two men,who had their visas revoked over extensive criminal convictions,fuels accusations the government is sidestepping detainee cases that could lead to further mass releases.
Palestinian advocates are urging the Albanese government to grant the same rights to people fleeing the war in Gaza as Ukrainians received after Russia’s invasion.
The detainees from Iran,Iraq and Sudan are at the heart of a new test for the government in its attempts to defend the detention regime.
The government intends to mount a fresh defence in the High Court against asylum seekers who refuse to co-operate with Australian authorities.
The High Court will decide if more immigration detainees should be released into the community following a fresh hearing next month.