What is the strengthening character test bill and does Australia need it?
The Coalition wants to prevent ‘overseas criminals’ staying but Labor says the government already has power to do that
Labor will not oppose visa cancellation character test bill, Kristina Keneally saysFollow our Australia news live blog for the latest updatesGet our free news app; get our morning email briefing
The Morrison government has argued it needs to pass its strengthening character test bill to prevent “overseas criminals” staying in Australia.
Labor has said the government already has that power, saying if it can deport a tennis player (Novak Djokovic) it can deport someone with a criminal conviction.
The minister may already cancel or refuse a person’s visa where a person has committed an offence that would fall within the new definition of ‘designated offence’, including having regard to the broad notion of the person’s past or present criminal or general conduct.
The changes should not be retrospective;
The risk that low-level offending could result in visa cancellation should be reduced by using the existing definition of a “substantial” criminal record;
The impact on New Zealanders should be softened by a new ministerial declaration.
Law (Australia) | The Guardian
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