This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-30340579
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Australian senate backs migrant reforms | Australian senate backs migrant reforms |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Australian senate has narrowly approved changes to migration laws that include reintroducing controversial temporary visas for refugees. | The Australian senate has narrowly approved changes to migration laws that include reintroducing controversial temporary visas for refugees. |
| The bill will allow refugees to live and work in Australia for three to five years. | The bill will allow refugees to live and work in Australia for three to five years. |
| It was passed by 34 votes to 32 after intense and sometimes emotional debate in a late-night sitting. | It was passed by 34 votes to 32 after intense and sometimes emotional debate in a late-night sitting. |
| Australia currently detains refugees caught arriving by boat and puts them in camps in Papua New Guinea and Nauru. | Australia currently detains refugees caught arriving by boat and puts them in camps in Papua New Guinea and Nauru. |
| The bill is expected to become law later on Friday when it is passed by the House of Representatives where the government has a majority. | The bill is expected to become law later on Friday when it is passed by the House of Representatives where the government has a majority. |
| Some 30,000 asylum seekers have tried to reach Australia by boat since August 2012, but they have yet to have their claims assessed because the government does not want them to stay permanently. | |
| They live in detention camps or in the community under bridging visas that do not allow them to work. | |
| Under the new law, thousands of the refugees - including hundreds of children - will be able to leave the detention centres and live for at least three years in Australia. | Under the new law, thousands of the refugees - including hundreds of children - will be able to leave the detention centres and live for at least three years in Australia. |
| They will have work rights and could eventually apply for skilled or other migrant visas. | They will have work rights and could eventually apply for skilled or other migrant visas. |
| However, if they do not secure a permanent visa they could be deported to their country of origin. | However, if they do not secure a permanent visa they could be deported to their country of origin. |
| Temporary visas were originally introduced under former Prime Minister John Howard but were criticised by rights groups and the UN for failing to meet Australia's obligations as a signatory to the UN Refugee Conventions. | Temporary visas were originally introduced under former Prime Minister John Howard but were criticised by rights groups and the UN for failing to meet Australia's obligations as a signatory to the UN Refugee Conventions. |
| The government won the senate vote with the support of the Palmer United Party (PUP) which had negotiated several changes, including a provision that children should be released from a detention centre on Christmas Island. | The government won the senate vote with the support of the Palmer United Party (PUP) which had negotiated several changes, including a provision that children should be released from a detention centre on Christmas Island. |
| Party leader Clive Palmer called the system the best option available. | Party leader Clive Palmer called the system the best option available. |
| "It's all very well for people to shake their head, but they're not locked up on Christmas Island," he told reporters. "Their children are not missing out on a decent Christmas dinner." | "It's all very well for people to shake their head, but they're not locked up on Christmas Island," he told reporters. "Their children are not missing out on a decent Christmas dinner." |
| Opposition leaders had accused the government of using asylum seekers as political pawns. | Opposition leaders had accused the government of using asylum seekers as political pawns. |
| Speaking before the senate vote, senior Labor figure Tony Burke said Immigration Minister Scott Morrison was "effectively wanting to use people as hostages". | Speaking before the senate vote, senior Labor figure Tony Burke said Immigration Minister Scott Morrison was "effectively wanting to use people as hostages". |
| "He could have started processing [asylum seekers]. He chose to not do the processing, and is now saying unless we vote for his measures, then he'll continue to keep people in detention," he told ABC Radio. | "He could have started processing [asylum seekers]. He chose to not do the processing, and is now saying unless we vote for his measures, then he'll continue to keep people in detention," he told ABC Radio. |
| However Mr Morrison said the government's offer provided a route out of the current political impasse. | However Mr Morrison said the government's offer provided a route out of the current political impasse. |
| Australia and asylum | Australia and asylum |
| Australia asylum: Why is it controversial? | Australia asylum: Why is it controversial? |