The High Court granted the Australian Government the right to appeal a Federal Court ruling over the medical transfer of dozens of asylum seekers and refugees. If the appeal is successful, only the High Court will be able to hear such cases, with the Australian Government claiming that the Federal Court has no jurisdiction to hear the cases brought on behalf of those in offshore detention. Refugee lawyers have voiced concern that this will make it much harder for cases of those requiring urgent medical transfers to be heard.
A guard at a makeshift immigration detention facility in Brisbane tested positive for coronavirus, resulting in concerns for the approximately 80 refugees being held there, majority of whom were transferred from offshore detention to Australia for specialist medical treatment. The facility, based at a hotel in inner Brisbane, has been described as inhospitable, cramped and dirty. It is understood detainees at this facility have not yet been tested and refugee advocates fear that the virus could spread rapidly in such conditions and within any detention population.
Globally, the resettlement of refugees has been suspended indefinitely by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). This is due to travel restrictions and drastically reduced entry into many countries. In a statement by the two agencies, they have appealed to countries to continue collaborating to ensure that refugee movements can continue where possible for critical emergency cases, and to ensure that processing of resettlement cases continues. Aid agencies have voiced fears that millions of refugees around the world will be left vulnerable in refugee camps and temporary settlements. Temporary visa holders, including refugees on temporary protection visas and bridging visas, are currently in limbo about their future as a result of national lockdowns.