Proposed Change to Australian Immigration Law

Tuesday June 23, 2009

There has been a proposal to allow immigration detainees to work while visas are processed, to mixed responses. Recently a Labor-dominated parliamentary committee has recommended that immigration detainees in Australia should be allowed to work while their visas are processed.

As it stands now only certain bridging visa holders have permission to work as visas are processed while detainees awaiting a judicial review of their immigration situation are denied working rights. Nor are individuals who have not made an application of refugee protection within 45 days of arriving in Australia.
However, the Joint Standing Committee on Migration has asked that all adult asylum seekers that hold bridging visas be allowed to work while awaiting immigration law decisions. This proposal has been rejected by the opposition immigration spokeswoman, Sharman Stone, who produced her own report that argued that this approach would turn Australia into an ideal port for people smugglers.

The move has offered both pros and cons under immigration law as it would allow for Australia's skills shortage to be assisted although the promise of only short-term employees would not be ideal for potential employers.

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