Immigration detainees face jail time if they refuse to co-operate in deportation from Australia
Labor brings forward urgent bill, which would also create power to impose a bar on new visa applications from non-citizens in designated countries
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Immigration detainees are being threatened with a minimum of one year in prison if they refuse to co-operate with efforts to deport them, under an urgent Labor bill to be introduced on Tuesday.
The bill requires non-citizens “to cooperate in efforts to ensure their prompt and lawful removal”, creating criminal penalties that could apply to a class of detainees that includes two plaintiffs before the high court challenging the legality of the detention of people who refuse to co-operate with deportation.
More than 110 “involuntary individuals”, whose home countries will not issue a travel document or facilitate removal.
More than 40 who could fall into scope who have not yet lodged protection visa applications.
More than 20 who have asked to be deported – which enlivens a statutory obligation for them to be removed – but their cases have not been referred to Australian Border Force.
Law (Australia) | The Guardian
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