Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to bring to the Senate's attention that the minister is being totally dishonest in answering my colleague's question. Article 16 of the refugee convention clearly states:

A refugee shall have free access to the courts of law on the territory of all contracting states.

We have a legal obligation under the convention to allow refugees who arrive here asking for our protection to access our courts. What this legislation is doing is removing the actual physical ability, removing any access to natural justice. It is in complete contradiction to article 16 of the convention, and I wish the minister to correct the record.