Australia Proposes Controversial Deportation Bill

Australia's new migration bill proposed by the Albanese government threatens to deport over 80,000 non-citizens to third countries, including those without valid visas and some in detention. Human rights advocates, including legal experts and former refugees, have criticized the legislation for its potential to separate families and expose deportees to mistreatment in countries that may not be safe. The bill allows the government to pay third countries for accepting these individuals while granting immunity to officials involved in the deportation process. Critics have drawn comparisons to the UK's controversial Rwanda deportation plan, raising concerns about arbitrary detention and violence in recipient countries. The legislation follows a High Court ruling that deemed indefinite detention unlawful, and while officials assert it does not expand the pool for deportation, the numbers suggest a broader impact than acknowledged. The lack of transparency regarding which countries will accept deportees exacerbates fears about their treatment post-removal.