Nat Barr is shocked after discovering that murderers, rapists and child molesters released from immigration detention could sue the government for millions.
Seven News political editor Mark Riley told the Sunrise host that even the most perverted asylum seekers had the right to sue taxpayers for ‘millions’ for unlawful detention after the High Court ruled their detention was unconstitutional.
“(The government) cannot take these people into custody again, at least until the Supreme Court announces the full reasons for that rather surprising decision last week,” he said.
“The people who are now released have the opportunity to sue the government and remember, the government has no money, the taxpayers have money, so (they can) sue taxpayers for millions of dollars for illegal incarceration.”
‘Real? For the time they’re in it?’ replied a clearly shocked Barr.
‘Yes indeed. Murderers, rapists, child molesters, the rest are on equal footing. That is the law,” Mr Riley said.
Sunrise host Nat Barr is shocked after discovering that murderers, rapists and child molesters released from immigration detention could sue the government for millions after the Supreme Court ruled last week that their detention was ‘unlawful’
The shocking development comes as the federal government confirms it will introduce new laws to parliament this week that will “ensure the safety of the community” with measures such as ankle bracelets and curfews used to monitor those released.
Home Secretary Clare O’Neil said the tough news laws would introduce very strict visa requirements that would keep the community safe.
“These circumstances are very serious,” she told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.
‘They include the Commonwealth’s ability to impose ankle monitoring bracelets on people released from detention.
“They include the Commonwealth’s power to impose very strict curfews on people released from detention.
“Those are two of a number of new conditions.”
Ms O’Neil said that for the first time, criminal sanctions would be imposed on those who breach visa conditions, as well as the possibility of prison sentences.
“So for the people who have been released from detention, we didn’t want to release these people from detention, but we have a simple message for them,” she said.
‘We impose the strictest possible conditions on you. If you don’t follow them, you’ll end up back in jail.”
It comes after Shadow Immigration Minister Dan Tehan argued that asylum seekers released into the community should be immediately returned to detention.
Gus Kuster (pictured) was locked up in immigration detention after spending the past two decades in and out of prison for crimes related to domestic violence, drugs, motor vehicles and weapons. He has claimed he poses no danger to the community after his release last week
Seven News political editor Mark Riley revealed asylum seekers have the right to sue taxpayers for ‘millions’ for unlawful detention after the High Court ruled their detention was unconstitutional (pictured, Anthony Albanese in Parliament on Wednesday)
“There is one reason why all these people were detained, and that is because they failed the character test,” he said.
“We need to get them back into custody, and we need to get them back into custody as quickly as possible.”
However, Ms O’Neil was quick to pour water on the suggestion.
“The idea that the government can simply override a Supreme Court decision through legislation is not how our constitution works,” she told Seven on Wednesday.
In a joint statement, Ms O’Neil and Home Secretary Andrew Giles confirmed the legislation would be brought before Parliament on Thursday.
“Community safety remains the highest priority of the Australian Government, which is taking further action in response to the recent High Court decision which we strongly opposed,” the statement said.
“We have been working through these complex issues to ensure the safety of the community well before the Supreme Court decision.
“The government will introduce and seek to pass this legislation (today) as a further response to the High Court decision.”