Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Challenging the Immigration Minister’s power to play god
In Australia, the Minister for Immigration has the power to play God. Many of the Immigration Minister’s powers profoundly affect the lives of people seeking asylum. But he is not accountable in how he exercises them, and his decisions are often either difficult or impossible to review.
There is a real risk that unfair decisions will be made, and there is often no legal avenue to correct mistakes. As a result, people’s lives hang in the balance, subject to the whim of the Minister.
RAP investigated the growth and breadth of these powers and completed a detailed report of our findings. The report was launched at an event at the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law on 4 May 2017.
Our Work
In the media
- ABC Radio National – RAP’s Lauren Bull questions Immigration Minister’s power to ban US whistle-blower Chelsea Manning
- Triple R, Breakfasters – RAP’s Lauren Bull on how Peter Dutton plays God
- The Guardian – Dutton’s powers unchecked and unjust, says former Immigration Minister
- The Good Weekend – Peter Dutton: “I’m just not impacted by that hatred”
- The Guardian – Opinion – Think Trump’s travel ban was bad? Peter Dutton may soon have the power to play God
- Pearls and Irritations – Playing God: the Immigration Minister’s unrestrained power
- Castan Centre Blog – The expansion of ministerial discretion in refugee law
- The Guardian – Is Peter Dutton a fit and proper person to wield such awesome powers?
- Inside Story – Power in black and white
- The Age – Dutton’s attack on the judiciary are nothing but conservative
- The New York Times – In Australia, One Man Can Decide a Migrant’s Fate. Did He Abuse That Power?
- The Age – Opinion – Time to limit ministerial discretion in the immigration system