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Australia, May 2, 2011 – Stricter laws for asylum seekers who are involved in violent protests while in immigration detention is planned to be introduced by Australian Immigration Minister Chris Bowen.

This is brought about by the unrest that has flared up at quite a few of the detention centers in recent months, with buildings burnt down at Sydney’s Villawood center during a riot last week.

Under the proposed changes, Bowen said that the Migration Act would be amended to specify that if a person is convicted of any offense committed while in immigration detention, they would fail the character test.
Another amendment is also about the increase of the maximum penalty for the manufacture, possession, use or distribution of weapons by immigration detainees from three to five years jail time.

These proposed amendments are planned to be backdated to April 26 by the government which means that those who are involved in recent uprisings at detention centers, but are still going to be charged, would face the new character test.
These amendments would send a clear message that anyone involved in any unacceptable conduct would then be denied a protection visa, Bowen said.

All these changes will apply to all people in immigration detention, onshore and offshore arrivals, asylum seekers, or otherwise.

Meanwhile, both the Opposition and the Greens have disapproved the plan, for they believe that these changes would open for the possible return to the days of temporary protection visas.

Scott Morrison, Opposition Immigration spokesman, stated that the plan amendments may boomerang because the minister has already got powers to penalize wrongdoers.

Morrison told ABC News in Christmas Island last Monday of his doubts about the changes’ effectivity and the possible outcome of the amendments which might end up actually restricting the actions of the minister due to the facts that currently under the act, the general character test is very broad and gives the minister a very wide range of discretion.
However, Morrison did not discount supporting the legislation, but said he would just wait to see the detail before making a decision.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said that the government is desperately looking for an excuse to reintroduce temporary protection visas.

Julian Burnside, Refugee advocate, also criticized the plan for he believed that some asylum seekers who are not granted Australian visa may face death if sent back to their country of origin. 

source:
english.peopledaily.com.cn