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.
Resources
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Report: 'Playing God: The Immigration Minister's Unrestrained Powers'
Our campaign for fair and accountable immigration decisions
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Op Ed: Time to limit ministerial discretion in the immigration system
RAP’s Shawn Rajanayagam for The Age on the Immigration Minister’s inequitable use of discretionary powers
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Op Ed: Think Trump's travel ban was bad? Peter Dutton may soon have the power to play God
Authors of RAP’s ‘Playing God’ report tell The Guardian how expanding Dutton’s draconian powers decreases transparency and accountability
In the media
ABC Radio National Breakfast – 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”
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