Burke stated on Tuesday: “Procedural fairness is crucial in many areas of decision-making; nonetheless, these measures are sometimes exploited by non-citizens to delay their removal at a cost to the Commonwealth, when it is not necessary or suitable for them to remain applicable.”

Concerns for legal rights

“This would strip people of the opportunity to respond before receiving a deportation notice, risking imprisonment if they do not comply.”

“We are still trying to comprehend the specific implications of this legislation, but the retrospective aspect should be a grave concern for all lawyers across Australia,” she commented.

“The fact that the government is looking to legislate around these court decisions is incredibly alarming.”

Legislation ‘secretive’ and ‘extremely dangerous’

“It cannot be viewed in isolation. It needs to be considered alongside three harsh bills Labor passed late last year, which collectively form a network that restricts access to legal justice and human rights protections for people in our community,” she added.

Last year, the government enacted laws granting immigration officials greater authority to carry out deportations, including the ability to financially compensate other countries for accepting non-citizens from Australia.

‘This is not the way’