The names of hundreds of people seeking protection visas have been published on the Federal Court website. The Federal Court, through the searchable Commonwealth Courts database, disclosed the names of people who have said they have been persecuted in their home countries over a number of years. This week, a Federal Court spokesman described the disclosure as a ‘major systemic failure’ and said the court had identified 400 asylum seekers whose names had been published.
Asylum seekers on temporary visas living in Australian communities are not eligible for wage subsidies that were passed in Parliament this week as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The Refugee Council of Australia estimates that close to 90,000 people on bridging visas have no safety net during this time. Many asylum seekers on bridging visas have lost their jobs as a result of restrictions to curb the spread of the virus, and so non-profit organisations are seeing spikes in demand for their support in accessing essential goods and services.
Police arrested a refugee activist and fined 26 others nearly $43,000 for holding a car convoy protest outside a hotel in Melbourne's north where refugees and asylum seekers are being detained. The group were fined for breaching social distancing orders currently in place in Victoria.
Dozens of refugees and migrants have continued to arrive on the Italian island of Lampedusa, despite a recent government order closing domestic ports to international charity refugee boats wishing to dock. Italian ministers on Tuesday ruled that at least until 31 July, for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic, domestic ports can no longer be considered a ‘place of safety’. There is concern over rising tensions between groups on the island. A group of 60 local residents held a protest after a small number of new arrivals were not abiding by quarantine laws.