Long term detainees who have no lawful reason to stay in Australia are given new temporary visas. They must, however, negate any future legal claims to be considered refugees and agree to be deported as soon as they have a
Immigration officials forcibly remove from schools children whose parents allegedly overstay their visas. Teachers, the Opposition and parent groups are outraged. In July, two of the children are freed with their mother. The Department of Immigration apologises for the error.
A significant increase in the number of skilled workers from overseas is proposed for the new financial year. 20,000 additional skilled workers are to be allowed into the country. This takes the total skilled migrant intake to nearly 100,000. The
Mamdouh Habib is released after three years in detention. Habib claims he was tortured by US, Egyptian and Pakistani interrogators. He also claims that an Australian official was present at one session at an airport in Pakistan. This is denied
The Federal Court recognises that the Ngaanyatjarra claimants hold exclusive possession rights over most of the Ngaanyatjarra Lands. The claim stretches from the Gibson Desert Nature Reserve to the South Australian border. The decision was reached through negotiation, not litigation.
Prompted by the prolonged detention of Kashmiri, Peter Qasim, Rural Australians for Refugees call on the Government for a Bill of Rights to protect asylum seekers. After almost 7 years in detention Qasim is finally given a bridging visa to
450 new troops are sent to Iraq following an increase in violence. The Prime Minister denies misleading Australians over future troop commitments in Iraq in the lead – up to the 2004 election.
The death of Cameron Doomadgee (tribal name: Mulrunji) on Friday, 19 November in a police cell leads to civic disturbances on the island and sparks a political and media sensation that continues for fourteen years.
The Immigration Minister announces changes to the conditions of temporary protection visas enabling 9,500 holders to apply for mainstream visas. Not all those who apply will qualify and refugee groups claim that in reality TPV holders are no better off.
The Immigration Minister announces that only one child of an asylum seeker who arrived in Australia by boat remains in detention on the Australian mainland. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission recommends the release of all children who are