Australian Government Plans Lifetime Visa Ban for Asylum Seekers Arriving by Boat

Asylum Seekers intercepted near Australia

Asylum Seekers intercepted near Australia – Screenshot from Australian Border Force 2014 video ‘No Way’

Divisions within Australia about the treatment of asylum seekers arriving by boat have been widened by the latest government proposal — Malcolm Turnbull's conservative government wants to slap a lifetime ban on them getting visas.

Currently, Australian policy deals with asylum seekers arriving by boat in two main ways: housing them in offshore detention centres on either Nauru or Papua New Guinea's Manus Island, and turning those headed to Australia back. Those who are detained and their asylum claims accepted are only supposed to stay in the centres until they are successfully resettled in a regional country. But the lack of acceptable countries for relocation means many asylum seekers languish in the detention centres for extended periods of time.

John Lord at The AIM Network (The Australian Independent Media Network) is among many who are outraged at the proposed lifetime visa ban:

It makes a mockery of international law to outlaw genuine refugees from forever entering Australia. That is the most draconian thing I have ever heard of. It applies to any adult despatched to Manus Island or Nauru since July 2013.

It confirms the fact that our government, if they cannot find third country placement will condemn those on Nauru and Manus to a life of incarceration, a death sentence despite the fact that in their entire lives they have never committed a crime. Shame on my country.

Many others online also see the issue in strong terms. Lawyer Andrew Laird is clearly one of those opposed to the plan:

Supporters of the proposed ban have been fairly quiet on Twitter. @redpill1811 is one of the exceptions:

Pauline Hanson's One Nation party has taken some of the credit and copped some of the blame. It has four members in the Senate where the government requires the votes of nine cross-benchers to pass legislation. PHON is an anti-immigration and anti-Muslim party.

@Ann1912 hoped for history to repeat itself. Hanson served a three-year term in the House of Representatives from 1996 to 1998.

But others blame the major parties:

However, it is doubtful that the Labor Party opposition will support the legislation necessary to enact the ban:

Former Labor heavyweights Kristina Keneally and Craig Emerson are clearly against the ban:

Some people believe that an international deal is in the offing to resettle refugees held on Nauru and Manus Island in a third country, possibly New Zealand or the USA:

For Jane Gilmore (@JaneTribune) the plan is merely a government ploy to divert attention from its own failings:

The proposal has been getting news coverage and social media attention overseas:

Doubtless, it will receive more when the legislation reaches parliament in the near future.

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