Ankle tracking devices and strict curfews will be imposed on serious criminals released from indefinite immigration detention, under new emergency laws being fast-tracked by the federal government.
The opposition had put pressure on the government over the potential threat posed by criminals, including three murderers and a number of sex offenders. released into the community after the Supreme Court ruled that indefinite detention was unlawful.
In response, Home Secretary Clare O’Neil will introduce a series of tough new visa conditions as part of the government’s emergency response to the decision.
This allows the Commonwealth to impose ankle bracelets and curfews on the 83 inmates released last week.
For the first time, criminal sanctions could also be applied to those who violate visa conditions, meaning they could face jail time.
“If I had any legal power to do this, I would keep all these people in custody,” Ms. O’Neil told reporters on Thursday.
“Some of these people have committed deplorable, heinous crimes.
“And that is why our government is managing the mandatory impact of this law and doing everything it can to keep the community safe.”
The changes are expected to be presented to parliament on Thursday.
Prior to Ms O’Neil’s announcement, the Coalition had indicated it would support the Government’s legislative response to the issue.
“At this stage the Coalition has not yet received any draft legislation from the government and we are yet to understand how it intends to address this particular issue,” Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price told Nine’s Today show on Thursday.
When asked if the Opposition would support it, Senator Price said: “Look, absolutely. We hope to be able to support it. That’s for sure.’
“The community, the Australian community, is at the heart of this, and the safety of the Australian community is the most important thing,” she added.
Last week’s Supreme Court ruling forced the government to release 83 immigrants after ruling that indefinite detention – with no other country willing to take them – was illegal.
Independent NSW MP Dai Le said everyone was shocked by the Supreme Court ruling.
“The Supreme Court’s ruling took everyone by surprise, but I think we need to find a way to ensure that legal experts come together to find a way to craft the law.” That’s my perspective,” she told Nine.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton told parliament on Wednesday he would be prepared to keep coalition MPs in Canberra for as long as necessary to pass the laws.
The Australian Federal Police commissioner this week informed his state and territory counterparts of the court’s decision and a joint operation has been set up with the Australian Border Force to coordinate the release of the detainees.
The freedmen were already subject to strict visa conditions, including informing authorities of their location, daily personal reporting and restrictions on working in certain types of industries.
The Supreme Court has not yet released the reasons for its decision.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be out of the country in the coming days as he attends the APEC economic leaders summit in San Francisco.