Senate Blocks Labor’s Attempt to Contain Further Fallout From Immigration Appeal

Labor’s hopes of stopping the politically damaging fallout from a forthcoming High Court immigration appeal have been dashed by the other parties in the Senate, with the Coalition, Greens and crossbench combining to refer its proposed legislative fix to an inquiry. The Migration Amendment (Removals and Other Measures) Bill passed the lower house on March 26, and needed to pass the Senate on Parliament’s last sitting day before the court ruling. The government is under immense pressure following a High Court ruling in November that overturned indefinite detention and freed 152 immigration detainees. Now another case, which will be heard on April 17, could see more released....