Thank the Senators who voted against the "Worst Bill Ever"
Over the last few days, your fight to block Minister Morrison's new immigration bill (dubbed the "Worst Bill Ever") came to a head in the Senate and despite our best efforts, Minister Morrison got his way.
Crossbench Senators such as Nick Xenophon, Bob Day, Ricky Muir, Glenn Lazarus and Dio Wang all voted for the legislation following an 11th hour announcement from Minister Morrison that if his bill was passed he would release some children from detention.
Using the suffering of children as bargaining chips to secure votes for terrible legislation is politics at its absolute lowest, and some Senators saw through this tactic and stood strong against Minister Morrison's foul play. These Senators who chose to vote it down include Senator John Madigan, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Independent Jacqui Lambie, ALP Senator Kim Carr, Labor and The Greens.
The legislation may have passed, but in this moment it's important we thank the Senators who stood strong against Mr Morrison's use of children as political pawns and voted to block this bill. We thank them in earnest, and so they know that their good sense and compassion was recognised by Australians, bolstering their confidence to stand up for refugees and asylum seekers in the future.
What does the Worst Bill Ever passing mean?
Scott Morrison was forced to compromise in order to pass his Bill. In the end, he gave ground to crossbenchers in order to secure their support.
Some of the results of this negoitiation are genuinely good: reports suggest Scott Morrison has committed to increasing Australia's humanitarian intake to be 18,750 over the next four years; and some asylum seekers will be moved off Christmas Island to the mainland of Australia while their claims are processed. It's reported that 25,000 people currently living in Australia on bridging visas will be given the right to work; and Morrison has said some children will be released from detention on Christmas Island.
These are significant concessions, but they are decisions Morrison could have made at any time, and they are not – despite efforts to portray them as such – in any way related to the new law. In the words of Jacqui Lambie, "These kids have been in there for 15 months and you want a pat on the back? You've got to be kidding yourselves."
Some of the results of this negoitiation are genuinely good: reports suggest Scott Morrison has committed to increasing Australia's humanitarian intake to be 18,750 over the next four years; and some asylum seekers will be moved off Christmas Island to the mainland of Australia while their claims are processed. It's reported that 25,000 people currently living in Australia on bridging visas will be given the right to work; and Morrison has said some children will be released from detention on Christmas Island.
These are significant concessions, but they are decisions Morrison could have made at any time, and they are not – despite efforts to portray them as such – in any way related to the new law. In the words of Jacqui Lambie, "These kids have been in there for 15 months and you want a pat on the back? You've got to be kidding yourselves."
According to the Guardian, Scott Morrison is now the most powerful person in the Australian government:1 "No other minister, not the prime minister, not the foreign minister, not the attorney-general, has the same unchecked control over the lives of other people."
There will be a greater risk of the Australian government sending asylum seekers back to harm's way, and this Bill has shut down much of the oversight that could have stopped this. For example, the Immigration Minister can now OK boats of asylum seekers being pushed back to sea, and left there. Or he can detain people without charge, or even deport them back to countries in spite of any risks that they may face - whether it be torture, or death. We may not even know what risks we are sending them back to: new, "fast-track" applications for protection mean that many refugees will not get a hearing, only a paper review. Previously, refugee law was built upon the fundamental principle that forbids returning a person to their persecutors. This Bill has entitled Australia to ignore that principle.
1'Senate gives Scott Morrison unchecked control over asylum seekers' lives', Guardian Australia, 5 December 2014.
There will be a greater risk of the Australian government sending asylum seekers back to harm's way, and this Bill has shut down much of the oversight that could have stopped this. For example, the Immigration Minister can now OK boats of asylum seekers being pushed back to sea, and left there. Or he can detain people without charge, or even deport them back to countries in spite of any risks that they may face - whether it be torture, or death. We may not even know what risks we are sending them back to: new, "fast-track" applications for protection mean that many refugees will not get a hearing, only a paper review. Previously, refugee law was built upon the fundamental principle that forbids returning a person to their persecutors. This Bill has entitled Australia to ignore that principle.
1'Senate gives Scott Morrison unchecked control over asylum seekers' lives', Guardian Australia, 5 December 2014.
TPVs are back, albeit not quite in the form that the Abbott Government had hoped. Amendments mean that a person who secures a Temporary Protection Visa can possibly progress to a permanent visa in Australia. But as the Guardian notes,1 it is a concession in principle and name only. Even Morrison has said it's an unlikely reality for anyone.
1'Senate gives Scott Morrison unchecked control over asylum seekers' lives', Guardian Australia, 5 December 2014.
1'Senate gives Scott Morrison unchecked control over asylum seekers' lives', Guardian Australia, 5 December 2014.
WILL YOU SIGN YOUR NAME?
Dear Senators,
Thank you for standing strong against Minister Morrison's Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment Bill in the face of some of the worst political bargaining – using children as political pawns and tools for emotional blackmail.
We appreciate your common sense and compassion, and hope you continue to fight for the fair treatment of asylum seekers and refugees in the new year. We will be keeping up the fight and will continue to celebrate those who join us, and condemn those who seek to politicise some of the world's most vulnerable human beings.
Yours with gratitude and with hope,
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