Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced new legislation that would bar asylum seekers who attempt to arrive in Australia by boat from ever receiving an Australian visa. This legislation would extend to refugees, but not to children, and would apply retroactively from 19 July 2013. The government expects to introduce these changes to the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) when Parliament sits on 7 November.
The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court rejected a court application made on behalf of asylum seekers held on Manus Island for them to be returned to Australia and compensated for being illegally detained. The application was deemed invalid as the men had not signed it themselves. Ben Lomai, the lawyer representing the asylum seekers, argued that he was unable to obtain these signatures due to the nature of their detention.
The New York Times has continued its examination of Australia’s asylum seeker policies by publishing an article by Australian journalist Waleed Aly condemning Australia’s offshore processing system.