Details of released immigration detainees’ criminal pasts revealed
The details of 92 detainees released following a landmark High Court judgment have been revealed in Senate documents.
Almost a third of the 92 detainees released following a landmark High Court judgment that found indefinite immigration detention was unlawful have committed “very serious” crimes against women or children, or high-level violent crimes.
New documents tabled in the Senate on Thursday evening revealed a further 21 former detainees were referred to the immigration minister over several years under the category of “national security, cybercrime, serious and high profile organised or gang related”.
The document was prepared three weeks before the High Court judgment on November 8, and will likely feed criticism that the government was unprepared for an outcome where it lost the case and the detainees were released.
Of the 92 former detainees, 18 were from Afghanistan, 17 were from Iran, and 10 were from Sudan. A further nine were stateless, the document says.
Due to legal protection findings, 78 former detainees cannot be deported from Australia, while 14 are stateless or unable to be removed for reasons beyond Australia’s control.
More than 50 per cent of the former detainees have been held for more than five years. Six have been immigration detention for more than a decade.
Government ministers Andrew Giles and Clare O’Neil have previously refused to detail the crimes that some of the former detainees had committed, though Mr Giles has said that three murderers and a number of sex offenders were included.
On Thursday, the government passed legislation in a matter of hours to impose curfews and ankle monitoring devices on the released detainees.
‘Wait and see’: Albo’s big election threat
The Prime Minister has refused to rule out a double dissolution of parliament as he faces fierce opposition to his signature housing legislation.
‘Backwards’: Albo blasted over economy fears
Australia is at risk of taking “noticeable” steps backwards, with one business leader saying prominent CEOs are fearing the country is “losing” its way.
Joyce’s wild nuclear claim after earthquake
A wild claim from Barnaby Joyce about the future of a nuclear plant in the area where a 4.7 magnitude quake struck has led to a fiery exchange with a fellow panellist.