“Duplicity defined”: Labor seeks to block temporary visa holders
Sydney, 10 March 2026 — In response to news that the Australian government is introducing new rules to block people… Read More
Sydney, 12 March 2026 — Following the passage of a new law which creates powers to temporarily block travellers from certain countries, including Iran, from coming to Australia on temporary and tourist visas, the Asylum Seekers Centre says the legislation is a dangerous abuse of power, punishes people with valid visas, and undermines Australia’s commitment to fairness and protection.
The legislation was hastily introduced to parliament by Assistant Minister for Citizenship Julian Hill on Tuesday mere hours after Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke announced humanitarian visas had been granted to members of the Iranian women’s football team.
The new law gives the Minister for Home Affairs the power to block temporary visa holders from entering Australia for up to six months (renewable indefinitely), by automatically ceasing their visas without notice, discretionarily exempting some, and applying this to entire groups based on nationality or other criteria.
Asylum Seekers Centre CEO and former refugee Elijah Buol OAM said:
“In the morning, Tony Burke chanted Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi alongside the Iranian footballers. Just hours later, it became Out, Out, Out, introducing this new law to prevent others seeking safety from travelling.
“By passing this law, the government has chosen to block people with valid visas from entering Australia, while offering selective access to a few in the public eye. That is duplicity defined. It’s a move that flies in the face of Labor’s promise to treat people seeking asylum and refugees with compassion and humanity.
“Seeking asylum is a human right. It is not determined by nationality, profile, and platform. It is universal. This law is an affront to those rights.
“These powers threaten the very foundations of Australia’s onshore protection program. For years, politicians have been stressing the importance of seeking safety through so-called legal routes. Today, in the face of an international humanitarian crisis, the government has decided to block a key pathway for people seeking safety today and in the future.
“Legislating in this way gives unchecked power to shut the door on people simply because of where they’re from or what global events are unfolding.
“We call on the government to repeal this callous legislation and ensure fair and consistent treatment for all, as well as establish a clear pathway to permanency for those trapped in limbo in our community.”
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Media contact:
For further information or to request an interview, contact Maddison Bates-Willis on 0401 244 296 or maddison@asylumseekerscentre.org.au
