Government claims it can’t send asylum seekers back to Nauru and Manus
The Attorney-General is refusing to release legal advice that claims medically transferred asylum seekers cannot be sent to back to detention centres.
The government is starting to implement the medivac bill changes, making it easier for sick asylum seekers to be transferred to Australia.
It plans to treat them on Christmas Island, meaning refugee lawyers cannot launch legal action to keep them in the country.
But Attorney-General Christian Porter is now claiming the legislation includes a loophole that prevents asylum seekers from being sent back to Nauru or Manus Island.
Labor is rejecting the claim and is demanding the government release the legal advice, in full.
But Mr Porter tells Alan Jones that won’t be happening.
“I won’t waive privilege over that legal advice because if this comes to an argument ultimately we don’t obviously want to telegraph all of the ins and outs of that advice.
“We will be providing a summary of the problem that we say exists so that people can check whether or not that is correct.”
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The Opposition is reportedly divided over its support of the Christmas Island plan with Bill Shorten and his deputy Tanya Plibersek said to be at odds.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton tells Ray Hadley the chaos will only get worse if Labor wins the election.
“They’ve really not thought through what it is they’ve proposed and I think there’s a big price to pay for it.
“The Prime Minister and I are obviously concerned about new boat arrivals.
“We’re concerned about kids back in detention after we’ve taken all the kids out of detention.
“And I just don’t want to return to those bad days.”
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