Senate stymies migrant character test proposal

The Morrison government’s attempt to strengthen the migrant character test and make it easier to cancel the visas of violent criminals has failed.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke. Picture: Martin Ollman

The Morrison government’s attempt to strengthen the migrant character test and make it easier to cancel the visas of violent criminals has failed for a second time after its initial proposal was defeated two years ago.

The government’s Migration and Citizenship Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Information Provisions) Bill was voted down on Wednesday by Labor, the Greens and independent senator Rex Patrick.

The vote was tied 25-25, which meant it could not proceed to the next stage and will be sent back to the House of Representatives.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke had previously told The Australian the legislation, first introduced in 2019, was needed to give the government greater powers to more quickly remove visa holders who committed ­serious and violent offences.

The legislation would have led to visa cancellations or refusals for a migrant who had committed an offence that carried a prison term of two years or more, irrespective of the sentence ­imposed.

Labor had previously raised concerns that those who carried out lower-level offences might still be deported and that victims of domestic violence would not be adequately protected.

Opposition immigration spokeswoman Kristina Keneally on Wednesday accused Mr Hawke of being Scott Morrison’s “water boy” by reneging on a deal, allegedly made at lunchtime on Tuesday, to delay the vote until the November sittings and ensure low-level offending was not captured.

“A recently promoted cabinet minister makes a deal to work with the opposition to make real changes,” she said. “Then the minister yanks it a few hours later. Clearly the Prime Minister has yanked on minister Hawke’s chain.”

A spokesman for the Prime Minister’s office denied it had intervened.

Mr Hawke on Wednesday said Labor had blocked important laws to remove dangerous criminals from Australia.