Andrew Giles confirms 80 asylum seekers released into community after High Court decision

After a historic court decision that a stateless man was being held “unlawfully”, more asylum seekers have since been released into the community.

Eighty people have been released from immigration detention after the High Court last week determined dozens of asylum seekers were being held unlawfully.

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles on Monday morning confirmed that although the federal government had argued against the outcome, it had complied and released 80 people almost immediately.

He said those dozens of people were now in the community.

“All of (those 80) are on appropriate basic conditions,” Mr Giles told ABC Radio.

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles confirmed 80 people had been released from detention since last week’s High Court decision. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicki Connolly

On Wednesday, the High Court ruled that a stateless Rohingya man in detention who had previously served time in jail for child sex abuse had been unlawfully detained.

Mr Giles said although the Commonwealth had argued against the decision, the government “was prepared” for the outcome, citing the case’s significance.

“There are a number of people, around 90, who are likely to be in similar circumstances to that individual,” he said.

“It is important to note the High Court hasn’t yet provided reasons for the decision, so the full ramifications of the decision won’t be able to be determined.”

Mr Giles said community safety was paramount, and the Australian Federal Police and Border Force were involved in the process.

“We have taken every step to ensure community safety. That’s something I really want to press,” he said.

“But we’re not pausing on what was available to us as at now. We are looking at every lawful step we can do ensure going forward that we’ve taken every step to ensure the safety of the Australian community.”

Mr Giles said community safety was paramount and the government was assessing its options into the future. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

Meanwhile, the Coalition’s immigration spokesman Dan Tehan on Monday claimed there was a lack of detail from the Albanese government about the people who had been released from indefinite detention.

Mr Tehan said the public had a right to be concerned about not knowing what visas those asylum seekers were now on or what protections had been put in place for the community.

“It needs to be transparent about what it is doing, we’ve just heard there are now 80 people who have been released,” Mr Tehan told Sky News.

“There were media reports over the weekend that 30 of them in Western Australia were just dumped in a motel on the outskirts of Perth. They had no money, they were not aware of what visas they were going to be issued.

“This is another complete immigration mess … We don’t know what protections have been put in place for the local community.”

Mr Giles said the government was examining what the High Court decision would mean for the future.

“We have immediate legislative options before us and regulatory options before us that we need to put in place, and we also need to have the opportunity to consider the reasons for which the High Court has handed down the decision last week and, of course, we don’t yet have those reasons,” he said.